In this edition of Dhammadhara journal, the readers will witness Buddhist academic articles translated by well-establised academics from Japan and academic articles containing a wide range of perspectives by scholars in Chinese and other languages, which are sure to rouse interest. Buddhism in the modern world can be divided into three main sects:
     1. Theravāda Buddhism, which is practiced in countries including Thailand, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia;
     2. Mahāyāna Buddhism, located mainly in China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam;
     3. Vajrayāna Buddhism, found in Tibet and Mongolia.

     The origin of Mahāyāna Buddhism has been studied, analysed and debated for hundreds of years. Consequently, there are presently numerous theories of its genesis. For example, one theory mentions that Mahāyāna Buddhism arose from the Mahāsāṃghika sect. Another theory states that Mahāyāna stemmed from a group of Buddhist laypeople who gathered to pay homage to cetiyas. And still another theory proposes that, in the beginning, Mahāyāna formed alongside Theravāda in the same temple. The article “Prospects of the Study of the Origins of Mahāyāna Buddhism” by Professor Dr. Sasaki Shisuka which has been translated into Thai by Phramaha Pongsak Thaniyo, Ph.D., offers a new perspective which penetrates through the theories of the origin of Mahāyāna Buddhism. It is not to be missed, at all costs.

     Dr. Supranee Panichayapong’s “An Edition and Study of the Buddhānussati in the Pāli Caturārakkhā-aṭṭhakathā” is great example of thorough accounting of Pāli scriptures and reveals broad interest in the meditation practice of Buddhanussati according to the Caturarakkha text in Thailand, Srilanka, Myanmar and Cambodia since the earlier days.

“The Chinese Jātaka’s Stanzas that Correspond with the Jātakapāli: A Critical Comparative Study” by Chakrit Laemmuang is an important research study which illuminates that comparative study of parallell texts in various languages such Pāli, Chinese, Sanskrit and Tibetan has helped us see the development of the scriptures and accomplish the editing. Work such as this can only be attempted by researchers who have expertise in various languages.

The Milindapañha is a tremendously significant Buddhist scripture that the Burmese Pali Canon categorizes as part of the Tipiṭaka Khuddakanikāya. Presented in this edition, “Milindapañha: the Mystery of its Origin and Development” is written by Naowarat Panwilai, who has sought an answer to the question of which
literature it had been translated from: Greek; or Prakrit or Sanskrit in India, through a thorough compilation of evidence and reason.

It is my hope that the readers will gain benefit from this journal.

Phragrupalad Suvattanabodhigun
(Somchai Thanavuddho)
10 October 2019