BANGKOK, Thailand – Thailand is moving ahead with an English-language edition of the Tipitaka to make Buddhist teachings more accessible to readers worldwide, with three of the planned 45 volumes already completed as formatted manuscripts. Deputy Prime Minister Suphajee Suthumpun chaired a meeting at Government House on September 11 to review progress and preparations for the remaining work.
The full edition is planned to cover 21,941 pages across 45 volumes, comprising eight volumes of the Vinaya Pitaka, 25 of the Sutta Pitaka, and 12 of the Abhidhamma Pitaka. Translation and verification have been underway since fiscal year 2022, with completed manuscripts covering one volume each of the Mahavibhanga, Digha Nikaya, and Dhammasangani. Phra Brahmapundit, a member of the Sangha Supreme Council and abbot of Wat Prayurawongsawat, chairs the subcommittee overseeing the work.
The government is carrying out the project through the Ministry of Culture’s Department of Religious Affairs, the Sangha Supreme Council, and the National Office of Buddhism. Minister of Culture Sabeeda Thaised and Minister Attached to the Prime Minister’s Office Supamas Isarabhakdi were also involved in the government’s work on the project.
The meeting approved three subcommittees covering preparation, translation, and editorial work, with appointment orders to be submitted to Suphajee for consideration and signature. Plans also include printed and e-book editions, educational materials, and wider distribution to give the public, students, and scholars greater access to the Tipitaka in English. (NNT)
