PGI. 202 – Pāli Commentarial Literature
Syllabus
The following topics should be studied: Attribution of Pāli Commentaries to the Buddha and taking them as the Pakinnakadesanā of the Buddha; identification of the Commentaries on the basis of the Canonical texts; biographies of the Commentators; Sīhalatthakathā; Bhanakas and Poranas; problems pertaining to the authorship of the Abhidhamma Commentaries; determination of the authorship of the Commentaries written on the Khuddakapātha, Suttanipāta, Dhammapada and Jātaka; contribution of the Commentaries to the study of the Pāli Canon; an inquiry into the similarities and dissimilarities in the Nidānakathās of the Sumaṅgalavilāsinī, Atthasalini and Samantapāsādikā; evaluation of those Nidānakathās as a source of the first Council and as an introduction to the Pāli Canon.
Recommended Reading:
1. The Pali Literature of Ceylon G. P. Malalasekare, Colombo, 1956
2. A Textual & Historical Analysis of the Khuddakanikaya Oliver Abenayake, Colombo, 1984
3. A History of Pāli Literature Vol. ii. B. C. Law, London, 1933
4. History of Indian Literature Vol. ii Maurice Winternitz, Delhi, 1983
5. Early History of Buddhism in Ceylon E. W. Adikaram, Dehiwala, 1994
6. Dighanikayatthakatha tika (Linatthavannana) Vol. i., PTS. Lily de Silva, 1970
Recommended Reading:
1. The Pali Literature of Ceylon G. P. Malalasekare, Colombo, 1956
2. A Textual & Historical Analysis of the Khuddakanikaya Oliver Abenayake, Colombo, 1984
3. A History of Pāli Literature Vol. ii. B. C. Law, London, 1933
4. History of Indian Literature Vol. ii Maurice Winternitz, Delhi, 1983
5. Early History of Buddhism in Ceylon E. W. Adikaram, Dehiwala, 1994
6. Dighanikayatthakatha tika (Linatthavannana) Vol. i., PTS. Lily de Silva, 1970
Examination Questions
2007
Examine the commentarial features in the Pāli Canon.
Evaluate the services of Sri Lankan commentators. (Sīhaḷaṭṭhakathācariyā)
Who were Bhāṇakās (reciters)? Explain their role and function in preservation of the Dhamma – Vinaya.
Evaluate the authenticity inceptions (Nidānakathā) of Pāli commentaries as the historical sources.
Observe the life and works of Ven. Buddhaghosa.
Examine the use of Pāli commentaries for the study of Buddhism.
Explain the concept of Bodhisatta in the commentaries.
Write short notes on any two of the following.
i. Aṭṭhakathācariya Buddhadatta Thera
ii. Mahā Aṭṭhakathā
iii. Porāṇā
iv. Great Monastery (Mahāvihāra)
2006
Explain what is meant by 'Aṭṭhakathā' and show their use in the exposition of the Buddha's theachings.
Introduce the sources of Aṭṭhakathās adequately.
Paying attention to the origin and evolution of the Pāli Aṭṭhakathās, examine the suitability of assigning their authorship to the Buddha.
Observe the possibility of adopting views contrary to Mahāvihāra into the commentaries as a result of the sources and methodology used by the ccmmentators when translating Sinhalese commentaries into Pāli.
Clarify how the Commentators have commended highly the academic excellence of Mahāvihāra tradition.
„Theravāda teachers have paid special attention for using similes in their methods of exposition.“ Prove.
„Pāli commentaries improve the philosophical status of Buddhist doctrine through their expositions and etymological analyses.“ Prove.
Comment on any two of the following:
i. Ven. Buddhaghosa
ii. Aṭṭhasalīni
iii. Ven. Bhadanta Dhammapāla
iv. Papañcasūdanī
2005
Explainin what is meant by 'Aṭṭhakathā' explore whether there was a commentarial tradition during the time of the Buddha.
Survey the nature of the vast commentarial material that grew around the canon after the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka.
Examine the commentarial technique employed by Ācariya Buddhaghosa in translating the Sinhala commentaries into Pāli.
Discuss the following statement in the light of Buddhaghosa commentaries - „Ācariya Buddhaghosa was the greatest commentator of Theravāda tradition.“
Evaluate the importance of Samantapāsādikā Vinaya commentary for the understanding of Vinaya Piṭaka.
Discuss the importance of commentaries for the study of the social history of ancient Sri Lanka.
Compare and contrast the language and style of Pāli commentaries with those of the canonical texts.
Write comprehensive notes on any two of the following.
I. Buddhadatta
II. Bhānakā
III. Kankhāvitaranī
IV. Visuddhimagga
V. Jātakaṭṭhakathā
2004
Examine the traditional opinion that the origin of Pāli commentaries goes back to the life time of Gautama Buddha.
Comment on: „the commentaries are a part of Buddha's comprehensive teachings“ (Pakinnaka Desanā).
Discuss in details the sources which were helpful in translating Sinhala commentaries into Pāli.
Describe how Buddhaghosa thera used the Visuddhimagga to simplify the composition of commentaries.
Examine the value of using root stories (Nidhānakathā) of commentaries as preface of the Tipiṭaka.
Discuss the guidance given by commentaries in understanding Buddhism.
Provide a biographical sketch of commentator Buddhaghosa thera.
Write short notes on any two of the following.
a) Commentator Ācariya Dhammapāla
b) Commentator Ācariya Buddhadatta
c) Samantapāsādika
d) Bhānakās
Give evidence to prove the commentarial nature in the cannon itself.
Examine, how far is it correct to say that the origin of the Pāli Commentarial tradition can be found within the Canonical literature.
2003
Examine the sources of the Pāli commentaries.
Clarify giving examples the exegetical features that reflected in the Pāli Canon.
Evaluate the historical importance of the introductory account of the Pāli commentaries.
Assess the contribution of the Venerable Dhammapāla of Badatatittha to the development of the Pāli commentarial literature.
Elucidate the form and content of the Dhammapada commentary.
Who are the Bhānakas? Evaluate their contribution to preserve the tradition of the Pāli commentarial literature.
Clarify what are the special features seen in the Aṭṭhasalīnī as an Abhidhamma commentary.
Write comprehensive notes on two of the following:
I. Visuddhismagga
II. Porāṇā
III. Samantapāsādikā
IV. Commentator Buddhadatta Thera
2002
Examine the causes that led to translate the Sinhala Commentaries into Pāli.
Examine, how far is it correct to say that the origin of the Pāli commentarial tradition can be found within the Canonical literature.
Assess the contribution of the Venerable Buddhaghosa to the development of the Pāli Commentarial Literature.
Explain the sources of Pāli Commentaries as revealed in the Pāli Commentarial Literature.
Examine the exegetical methods followed in the Pāli Commentaries.
Discuss the importance of commentaries for the study the life of the Buddha and his disciples.
Describe the origin and role of the Bhānaka tradition.
Write comprehensive notes on any two of the following:
1. Buddhadatta
2. Dhammapāla
3. Visuddhimagga
4. Aṭṭhasalīni
Examine the commentarial features in the Pāli Canon.
Evaluate the services of Sri Lankan commentators. (Sīhaḷaṭṭhakathācariyā)
Who were Bhāṇakās (reciters)? Explain their role and function in preservation of the Dhamma – Vinaya.
Evaluate the authenticity inceptions (Nidānakathā) of Pāli commentaries as the historical sources.
Observe the life and works of Ven. Buddhaghosa.
Examine the use of Pāli commentaries for the study of Buddhism.
Explain the concept of Bodhisatta in the commentaries.
Write short notes on any two of the following.
i. Aṭṭhakathācariya Buddhadatta Thera
ii. Mahā Aṭṭhakathā
iii. Porāṇā
iv. Great Monastery (Mahāvihāra)
2006
Explain what is meant by 'Aṭṭhakathā' and show their use in the exposition of the Buddha's theachings.
Introduce the sources of Aṭṭhakathās adequately.
Paying attention to the origin and evolution of the Pāli Aṭṭhakathās, examine the suitability of assigning their authorship to the Buddha.
Observe the possibility of adopting views contrary to Mahāvihāra into the commentaries as a result of the sources and methodology used by the ccmmentators when translating Sinhalese commentaries into Pāli.
Clarify how the Commentators have commended highly the academic excellence of Mahāvihāra tradition.
„Theravāda teachers have paid special attention for using similes in their methods of exposition.“ Prove.
„Pāli commentaries improve the philosophical status of Buddhist doctrine through their expositions and etymological analyses.“ Prove.
Comment on any two of the following:
i. Ven. Buddhaghosa
ii. Aṭṭhasalīni
iii. Ven. Bhadanta Dhammapāla
iv. Papañcasūdanī
2005
Explainin what is meant by 'Aṭṭhakathā' explore whether there was a commentarial tradition during the time of the Buddha.
Survey the nature of the vast commentarial material that grew around the canon after the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka.
Examine the commentarial technique employed by Ācariya Buddhaghosa in translating the Sinhala commentaries into Pāli.
Discuss the following statement in the light of Buddhaghosa commentaries - „Ācariya Buddhaghosa was the greatest commentator of Theravāda tradition.“
Evaluate the importance of Samantapāsādikā Vinaya commentary for the understanding of Vinaya Piṭaka.
Discuss the importance of commentaries for the study of the social history of ancient Sri Lanka.
Compare and contrast the language and style of Pāli commentaries with those of the canonical texts.
Write comprehensive notes on any two of the following.
I. Buddhadatta
II. Bhānakā
III. Kankhāvitaranī
IV. Visuddhimagga
V. Jātakaṭṭhakathā
2004
Examine the traditional opinion that the origin of Pāli commentaries goes back to the life time of Gautama Buddha.
Comment on: „the commentaries are a part of Buddha's comprehensive teachings“ (Pakinnaka Desanā).
Discuss in details the sources which were helpful in translating Sinhala commentaries into Pāli.
Describe how Buddhaghosa thera used the Visuddhimagga to simplify the composition of commentaries.
Examine the value of using root stories (Nidhānakathā) of commentaries as preface of the Tipiṭaka.
Discuss the guidance given by commentaries in understanding Buddhism.
Provide a biographical sketch of commentator Buddhaghosa thera.
Write short notes on any two of the following.
a) Commentator Ācariya Dhammapāla
b) Commentator Ācariya Buddhadatta
c) Samantapāsādika
d) Bhānakās
Give evidence to prove the commentarial nature in the cannon itself.
Examine, how far is it correct to say that the origin of the Pāli Commentarial tradition can be found within the Canonical literature.
2003
Examine the sources of the Pāli commentaries.
Clarify giving examples the exegetical features that reflected in the Pāli Canon.
Evaluate the historical importance of the introductory account of the Pāli commentaries.
Assess the contribution of the Venerable Dhammapāla of Badatatittha to the development of the Pāli commentarial literature.
Elucidate the form and content of the Dhammapada commentary.
Who are the Bhānakas? Evaluate their contribution to preserve the tradition of the Pāli commentarial literature.
Clarify what are the special features seen in the Aṭṭhasalīnī as an Abhidhamma commentary.
Write comprehensive notes on two of the following:
I. Visuddhismagga
II. Porāṇā
III. Samantapāsādikā
IV. Commentator Buddhadatta Thera
2002
Examine the causes that led to translate the Sinhala Commentaries into Pāli.
Examine, how far is it correct to say that the origin of the Pāli commentarial tradition can be found within the Canonical literature.
Assess the contribution of the Venerable Buddhaghosa to the development of the Pāli Commentarial Literature.
Explain the sources of Pāli Commentaries as revealed in the Pāli Commentarial Literature.
Examine the exegetical methods followed in the Pāli Commentaries.
Discuss the importance of commentaries for the study the life of the Buddha and his disciples.
Describe the origin and role of the Bhānaka tradition.
Write comprehensive notes on any two of the following:
1. Buddhadatta
2. Dhammapāla
3. Visuddhimagga
4. Aṭṭhasalīni
