In this volume of Dhammadhara Journal, all readers will find out more about the interesting topics below.

     The research article “Tracing Back Manuscript Lineages Through Their Variant Readings: A Case Study from Khom Script Manuscripts of the Dīghanikāya”, written by Dr. Bunchird Chaowarithreonglith, clearly presents the benefits of purifying the contents of the Tipitaka by using information from various Pāli scriptures (Khmer, Sinhalese, Burmese, Tham and Mon). This information allows us to focus on the original spelling of each word with accuracy by studying and analyzing different  example words that appear in the Pāli Dīghanikāya text from various sects. With careful reasoning, the work has lead to a clear and correct conclusion of the original spelling that is very interesting, especially for those who see the importance of maintaining a complete correct version of original teachings from the Lord Buddha.

     The research article “Venerable Mahākaccāyana in Various Documents, Part II: Missions from King Caṇḍapajjota and the Buddha” is brought to us by Dr. Chakrit Laemmuang. It is part of a continuous research on Venerable Mahākaccāyana, which is based on the information from the Theravāda Pāli and the Mūlasarvāstivāda scriptures. The information in the Pāli scriptures was required to form a thorough diagnosis. Also, there are in-depth comparisons between various Pāli scriptures in Khmer, Sinhalese, Burmese and Tham scripts totaling 11 texts. In the case that the information in the Theravāda Pāli and the Mūlasarvāstivāda scriptures did not match each other, more in-detail studies based on the information from Pāli commentary and various scriptures in Chinese were used to make a comparison study. This ended up being a study that deliberates clearly on the story of Venerable Mahākaccāyana and the propagation of Buddhism in the Avanti region.
     It is worth commending such an in-depth Buddhist research study that refers to the Pāli written palm leaf scriptures from various traditions and compares these with the parallel scriptures and other related inscriptions in various languages with such attention to detail. In Thailand, there are still very few people working on this task because it requires a person with knowledge of scriptural languages, including Pāli, Sanskrit, Chinese and Tibetan, as well as experiences in advanced research skills. This set of skills is very useful to understand the contents of the Tipitaka in depth accurately, and to elevate the academic research in Buddhist Studies from Thailand at the international level.

    The research article “Theft, the Second Defeat of Monastic Rule: An Interpretation”, from Asst. Prof. Dr. Sompornnuch Tansrisook, presents an educated opinion that the second Pārājika offense (stealing) should be considered as having been committed or not based on by the value of property and laws around property in different societies in order to maintain the purpose of the discipline.

    The research article “Samantakūṭavaṇṇanā: Analysis of an Issue of Sri Lankan’s Cult” was written by Phramaha Phocana Suvaco, Asst. Prof. Dr., and Phramaha Thanorm Arnando, Dr., who studied the scriptures by giving an in-depth analysis of the context of Sri Lankan society at the time the scripture was composed.  The article argues that the true purpose of composing this scripture was to give an honor to the Buddha’s footprint on the top of Samantakūṭa Hill and to praise god Sumana as the protector of the Buddha’s footprint. The main reason given was to prevent the influence of Hinduism and the ceremony of worshiping to god Ubolwan (Vishnu) from infiltrating
Buddhism.

    The research article “The Architectural Diversity in Sukhothai Period: Bell-Shaped and Phum Khao Bin-Shaped Pagodas” was written by Phramaha Sarawut Phosrikham Yanasobhano and Phra Jaturong Acarasupo, Dr., who studied the architectural designs of pagodas in the Sukhothai period, both in the designs of upside-down bell and the Phum Khao Bin shapes. The study found that Sukhothai pagodas were influenced by the pagoda shapes of Lanka, Dvaravati, Burma, and Lanna. This research will give the reader ample knowledge of the development of pagoda designs.

    We hope that all readers will gain knowledge, ideas and enjoyment from the articles in this journal as appropriate.

Phragrupalad Suvattanabodhigun (Somchai Thanavuddho)
1 January 2022
New Year’s Day