7.2. The Phrapariyattidhamma: Study in the Form of Pali Course

The Phrapariyattidhamma Study in the section of Pali Course^[1] is, as is said in Thailand, the study of the Buddha's teachings as contained in the Tipitaka and its commentaries. Pali was carried out since the Sukhothai period, it was eventually improved and divided into nine grades during the reign of King Rama II of Chakri dynasty. Now, the educational administration is in the hand of Somdej Phramaharajamangalacaraya (Chuang Varapunno) of the Paknam Monastery^[2]. He is a chief monk of Pali Course with three vice-chiefs, a secretary and assistant secretaries being his staff-workers. Pali course is divided into nine grades.

The students in each class are required to study various subjects as illustrated against each grade as follows:

i. The First-Second Grade (Prayok 1-2): there are two subjects used for study in this grade. They are:

a. Pali Grammar: the text-books used are the elementary Pali Grammar, volumes I-III.

b. Pali-Thai Translation: the text-books used are composed by Phra Buddhaghosacariya, “Dhammapadatthagatha, volumes I-IV.

ii. The third Grade: there are four subjects scheduled for this grade. They are:

a. Pali Grammar: the Pali Grammar texts are the same as in the previous grade but students have to study by memorizing and criticizing, for the subject is based on analytical reasoning.

b. Pali Syntax: the text-book of Pali syntax is called the Vakayasambhndha. It is in accordance with its rules. The subject helps students greatly to understand the usage of Pali in depth.

c. Pali-Thai Transaltion: the text used the Dhammapadatthagatha volumes 5-8. The students are required to translate Pali into Thai.

d. Official Letter Writing: this subject is called Purababhaga. It is formal writing Thai letters used for official purposes.

iii. The Fourth Grade: the subjects for study are:

a. Pali–Thai Translation: the text used is called Mangalatthadipani. It is an extensive commentary in the Mangala Sutta. The small discourse from Khuddhakapadha.

b. Thai-Pali Translation: the text is the Dhammapadatthagatha, volumes one. This is the first step of student to translate Thai into Pali.

iv. The Fifth Grade: the subjects for study are:

a. Pali–Thai Translation: the text is the Mangalatthadipani, part 2.

b. Thai–Pali Translation: the text is the Dhammapatthagatha, volumes 2 to 4.

v. The Sixth Grade: the subjects for study are:

a. Pali–Thai Translation: the text is the Samantapasadika, volumes 3 to 5.

b. Thai–Pali Translation: the text is the Dhammapadatthagatha, volumes 5 to 8, of which the queston–paper will be given in more detail on complicated form than the previous grade.

vi. The Seventh Grade: the following are the subjects:

a. Pali–Thai Translation: the text is the samantapasadika book 1 and 2.

b. Thai–Pali Translation: the text is Mangalatthadipani Part 1, that is a Thai version of Mangalathadipani used in the fourth grade.

vii. The Eight Grade: there are three subjects used in this grade. They are:

a. Pali -Thai Translation: the text is Visuddhinagga composed by Phra Buddhaghosacariya.

b. Thai -Pali Translation: the text is the Samantapasadika section 1, which is a Thai version used in the Sixth Grade.

c. Pali Poetry; the subject is the writing of Pali poetry.

viii. The Nineth Grade: the subjects taught are:

a. Pali-Thai Transaltion: text is the Abhidhammatthavibhavini composed by Phra Anuruddhacariya.

b. Thai–Pali Translation: the text is Visuddhimagga, which is a Thai version of the Visuddhimagga used in the eight grade.

c. Pali–Composition: it is the writing of Pali essay on the topic given.

Pali is still the lituragic language of the Buddhists of Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos where it has currently been taught to enable them to understand the message of the Buddha.

The detail of Pali study in Thailand can be summarized in the table below^[3].

Class	Subjects	Texts Used	Authors
1-2	Pali Grammar	Pali Vyakarana Vol. 1-4	Rev.S.P.K. Vajiranavarorasa
	Translation of Pali into Thai (both literally and comprehensively)	Dhammapadatthakatha Vol.1-4	Rev. Buddhaghosa
3	Translation of Pali into Thai (both literally and comprehensively)	Dhammapadatthakatha Vol.5-8	Rev. Buddhaghosa
	Syntax	Dhammapadatthakatha Vol.5-8	Rev.Buddhaghosa
	Pali Grammar[4]	Pali Vyakarana Vol. 1-4	Rev.S.P.K. Vajiranavarorasa
	How to write Official Letters (Pubbabhaga)	Given Assignments	Examination Controller
4	Translation of Thai into Pali	Dhammapadatthakatha Vol.1	Rev. Buddhaghosa
	Translation of Pali into Thai	Mangalatthadipani Vol.1	Rev. Sirimangala
5	Translation of Thai into Pali	Dhammapadatthakatha Vol.2-5	Rev.Buddhaghosa
	Translation of Pali into Thai	Mangalatthadipani Vol.2	Rev. Sirimangala
6	Translation of Thai into Pali	Dhammapadatthakatha Vol.5-8	Rev.Buddhaghosa
	Translation of Pali into Thai	Samantapasadika Vol. 3-5	Rev.Buddhaghosa
7	Translation of Thai into Pali	Mangalatthadipani Vol.1	Rev. Sirimangala
	Translation of Pali into Thai	Samantapasadika Vol. 1-2	Rev.Buddhaghosa
8	How to Write Poems	Given Assigments	Examination Controller
	Translation of Thai into Pali	Given Assignments	Examination Controller
	Translation of Pali into Thai	Visuddhimagga Vol.1-3	Rev. Buddhaghosa
9	Composition of Eassay in Pali	Assignments	Examination Controller
	Translation of Thai into Pali	Visuddhimagga Vol.1-3	Rev. Buddhaghosa
	Translation of Pali into Thai	Abhidhammatthavibhavini	Rev. Sumangala

Though, the nine grades of Pali can summarized into three levels, that is, those who graduate in the third grade are called Parien^[5] Tri (The Third Grade), those who graduate in the fourth up to sixth grade are called Parien Tho (The Second Grade) and those who graduate in the seventh up to ninth grade are called Parien Ek (The First Grade).

We can see that there are nine classes in Pali study in Thailand. From the first to fifth class, students study Pali grammar and translate Pali texts into Thai. Besides, they study Suttapitaka with the commentaries named Dhammapadatthakatha composed by Ven. Buddhaghosa^[6] as well as Mangalatthadipani of Ven. Sirimangalacariya.^[7] From the sixth to seventh class, students study intermediate grammar and translate Pali text of the commentaries of Ven. Buddhaghosa named Samantapasadika and translate the texts studied earlier in the fifth class from Thai into Pali. In the eighth class, students study Ven. Buddhaghosa’s commentary named Visuddhimagga, which provide details on Sila (precept), Samadhi (meditation), and Panna (wisdom). In the same class, students study how to write poetry following six treatises (Patthayavatta etc.). It is supplemented with the translation of the excerpts from the Samantapasadika (Commentaries on Vinayapitaka) into Thai. And in the ninth class, the students study Abhidhammapitaka along with the commentary named Abhidhammatthavibhavini composed by Venerable Sumangala and also translate the Visuddhimagga into Thai. How to write Pali essay in advanced level is also taught at this stage. However, most of texts on Pali are composed in Thai, there are few works done in English. It is therefore, necessary to study Pali, especially for Buddhists and those who are interested in Buddhism. This inspires me to work on Pali, hoping it can be outline for beginners interested in Pali and of course in Theravada Buddhism.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Pali Course is the section of Thai Sangha Education System.

[2]:

Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen (also written Pak Nam Bhasi Charoen in Phasi Charoen District, Bangkok is a very large wat with a sizeable population of monks and nuns. Many foreigners have stayed at this temple over the years. The temple is perhaps best known for its meditation lessons. The meditation teacher can speak some English and the junior monks are able to interpret.

The temple is located at Toed Thai Road, Phasi Charoen, Thonburi, and is accessible by road or by chartered longtailed boatfrom Tha Chang or Tha Saphan Phut.

[3]:

Mahamakut Rajavidyalaya, Education Council, Buddhism in the Thai Kingdom., p.98.

[4]:

Advanced Pali Grammar based on the books of Pali Vyakarana Vol. 1-4 will be taught in this level.

[5]:

“Parien” is pronounced in Thai.

[6]:

Buddhaghosa is considered the greatest of commentators on the Tipitaka. He was a Brahmin born in a village near Buddhagaya and became proficient in the Vedas and allied branches of knowledge.

[7]:

Sirimangalacariya is a Thai Pali commentator who lived in Chiangmai in the reign of Rajadhiraja. He composed Mangalatthadipani in 1524 A.D.