Dhamma Society - dhammasociety.org

Pāḷi Tipiṭaka in the Roman Script
and
The World Tipiṭaka Recitation

.
Pāḷi Tipiṭaka in various national scripts

Pāḷi (ปาฬิ) is the language of Dhamma recording the teaching of the Buddha. It originates in ancient India and has been wholly transmitted through the Great Tipiṭaka Councils --a revision system in the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. At present, the Buddha’s teaching in Pāḷi language has been assembled and categorized as the “Tipiṭaka” (The word “Pāḷi” is written according to the sound of the pāḷi text printed in the King of Siam Pāḷi Tipiṭaka “Chulachomklao the Great Dhamma Protector, 1893, Siam-Script Edition” in the reign of King Chulalongkorn Chulachomklao.)

Pāḷi has a distinctive characteristic in that it is a language without a script of its own. The alphabet of any nation can be used to write the Pāḷi sounds, for example, the Siam script, the Sinhalese script, the Burmese script, and the Roman script. This unique characteristic enables the Pāḷi Tipiṭaka to be spread internationally since the various scripts are the medium through which the Pāḷi sounds can be pronounced. In this handbook for the World Tipiṭaka Recitation, the International Phonetic Alphabet for Pāḷi (Pāḷi IPA) is printed as a guide for the pronuncitation of the Pāḷi sounds.

Pāḷi Tipiṭaka in Roman Script	An Example of Tipiṭaka Manual

Roman Script (อักษรโรมัน) was an ancient alphabet of the Roman Empire in Europe and at present is an international script popularly used worldwide. The Dhamma Society Fund under the Patronage of His Holiness the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand has used the manuscript of the Pāḷi Tipiṭaka from the Buddhist Era 2500 (1957) Great International Council to publish a complete 40-volume set of the Pāḷi Tipiṭaka in Roman script for the first time. Since the Roman script is a well known international script, the world population can pronounce the sounds of the Pāḷi Tipiṭaka more correctly and extensively. The correct pronunciation of Dhamma terminology is the basic for the study of the Tipiṭaka.

Moreover, the Roman script is an international script used in modern IT and communications technology at present. Thus, the Tipiṭaka published and data-based in the Roman script has the great potential to be disseminated worldwide.

	.
Pāḷi Tipiṭaka in various national scripts

Pāḷi Tipiṭaka (พระไตรปิฎปาฬิ) is the Buddha's teaching in Pāḷi language that has been recorded, recited, and memorised since the time of the Buddha. It has been transmitted without any change; hence, a Heritage of Humanity being preserved to these days. Those with wisdom can follow the Buddha's teaching in the Pāḷi Tipiṭaka as a guideline leading to peace and happiness in their lives.

The Pāḷi Tipiṭaka in Roman Script --the World Edition in 40 volumes

The World Tipiṭaka (พระไตรปิฎกสากล) is a Pāḷi Tipiṭaka from the Resolution of the Buddhist Era 2500 (1957) Great International Council. Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana Krom Luang Naradhivas Rajanagarindra had graciously supported the publication of this manuscript in the Roman script and presented it as a royal gift of Dhamma to leading institutions worldwide since 2005, thereby following the footstepts of her grandfather, King Chulachomklao of Siam, in printing the Siam-script Edition as a royal gift for the world. The publication of the complete 40-volume set in the Roman-script Edition is a gift of Wisdom and Peace from the Thai people to the people of the world.

The World Tipiṭaka Recitation for Wisdom and Peace at the Bangkok Town Hall on 8, April 2008

Tipiṭaka Recitation (งานอ่านสังวัธยายพระไตรปิฎก) and the recitation of translated versions in various languages constitutes the basis for the direct study of the Tipiṭaka. Tipiṭaka Recitation is also an excellent and noble act of merit-making since the recitation of the Pāḷi Tipiṭaka and the translated versions as a gift of dhamma involves Sadhā (Confidence) and Paññā (Wisdom), bringing merit and peace to the individuals, society, and the world at present and in the future.

Celebration & Recitation of the World Tipiṭaka in Roman Script at the Nitaiji, Nagoya, Japan on 12, September 2008

The World Tipiṭaka Recitation (งานอ่านสังวัธยายพระไตรปิฎกสากล) is a merit-making activity in which the public can take part to preserve the sound of Dhamma. Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) organized the World Tipiṭaka Recitation Ceremony for the first time at the People Plaza on April 8, 2008, the 100th anniversary day of the passing away of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana. On November 14-15, 2008, the Tipiṭaka Recitation is organised again at the People Plaza and every BMA District as well as every province nationwide as a merit-making in memory of the royal patron of the World Tipiṭaka.

World Tipiṭaka Recitation by Royal Thai Air Force on 8, September 2008