Comprehensive Pali Course

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Maha Bodhi Society, Bangalore, is a charitable organization established in 1956 by Most Venerable Acharya Buddharakkhita with the main objective of reviving the precious teachings of the Buddha in the land of its origin. India. Maha Bodhi Society Bangalore is dedicated for the welfare and happiness of people irrespective of religion, race, color or sex. Since its very inception the Society has been actively engaged in rendering various spiritual and humanitarian services. Today, under the able guidance and leadership of Venerable Acharya Buddharakkhita, the Society has expanded its activities in different parts of India and abroad with the message of compassion. The society has established monasteries for monks and nuns, Hospitals, Meditation centers. schools, hostels, old age home, charity programs and published hundreds of Dhamma books benefiting thousands of people around the globe. Regular residential meditation retreats, Dhamma teaching programs are conducted and Diploma in Buddhist Studies is offered by the Mahabodhi Research Center, Bengaluru Bhagavan Buddha University of Pali and Theravada Buddhism is being established for higher studies.

Born in Imphal, Manipur, graduated as an engineer in Kolkata, having participated in the Indian Freedom Movement, this extraordinary person joined the army and saw enough violence of the II World War. That led him to renounce everything and he went in search of peace and truth. At last through reading the holy Dhammapada, he came to the path of the Buddha and got ordained in Kushinagar under the most Venerable Chandamani Mahathera and came to be known as Venerable Acharya Buddharakkhita.

A visionary and hard working Buddhist monk, he scarified his whole life in study, practice and teaching of the Buddha's words and putting that compassionate teachings into practice by establishing Maha Bodhi Society, Bengaluru in 1956. Since then he worked tirelessly in the field of spirituality, education, medical and social services and established meditation centers, hospitals and educational institutions in India and abroad. He had the distinction of being a member of the Editorial Board of the Sixth Buddhist Synod (Chattha Sangayana) in Yangon, which brought out a complete edition of the Buddhist scriptures in the original Pali language.

This is the centenary year of his birth and Mahabodhi organizations and his countless disciples are celebrating the Birth Centenary with meaningful activities as mark of paying respect to the great teacher Most Venerable Acharya Buddharakkhita. We feel privileged to present this book as a part of this centenary celebrations series.

The Buddha Vacana Trust is bringing out the Second Edition of Comprehensive Pali Course Part I and II. This work has been prescribed as the text book of the Pali language for students undergoing the course in Pali language and literature at Mahabodhi Monastic Academy and Mahabodhi Buddhist Open University, Bangalore.

Its publication has fulfilled a long-felt need in the area of Indological studies in India. There are several universities in India which conduct courses in Pāli. Unfortunately there is no text book in English medium which is both authentic as well as easy to grasp. This second edition of the Course has incorporated several improvements.

The Comprehensive Pali Course contains instructions on all aspects of the study of Pali language including grammar, composition and syntax. It is intended for all those who want to learn Päli language, one of the three classical languages of India, the other two being Sanskrit and Prakrit. Lord Buddha taught in Pāli language which is also known as Māgadhi.

Pāli was spoken in the Indo-Gangetic plain now covered by Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Bengal and some parts of Madhya Pradesh. Buddha delivered His message in Päli, the language which both the elite and the ordinary people could master, so that the spirit of his Dhamma could enrich the minds of all. In this way Pali played a historic role in a practical manner through centuries and, indeed, it does even today in all the Buddhist countries.

The study of Pali language is not only important but an imperative to have a clear and objective grasp of Indian history and linguistics. All over the world it is being studied. Only in India, due to lack of facilities, and, it is regrettable to say, sectarian bias, the rightful role of Pali has not been restored.

The Comprehensive Pali Course is intended to introduce the students of Indian linguistics into the rich heritage of Pāli language and literature. This Course is complete by itself. The answers of the lessons are given in the end of the book.

The Course was prepared in 1954, when I taught at the Pali Post-Graduate Institute at Nalanda. Thereafter it was used to instruct the students undergoing a course in Päli Studies and Buddhology in Bangalore.

This book is being considered as the text for students of Pali language at different universities, in Karnataka under the auspices of the Mahabodhi Institute of Buddhism and Päli Studies and Mahabodhi Monastic Academy, Bangalore.