PTS: The Pali Text Society (new website)

The Pali Text Society (PTS)

The British Pali Text Society was established in 1881 and gave us some of the very first translations of ancient Theravada Buddhist texts by such renowned and influential scholars as:

• Isaline Blew Horner
• T. W. Rhys Davids
• Mrs. Caroline A. F. Rhys Davids
• Christmas Humphreys
• R. C. Childers
• F. L. Woodward
• and others who so influenced our teacher
• American Bhikkhu Bodhi, student of
• Sri Lankan Ven. Balangoda Ananda Maitreya
• German Ven. Nyanaponika
• German Ven. Nyanatiloka (author of the best Buddhist Dictionary)
• Sri Lankan Ven. Walpola Rahula (author of What the Buddha Taught)
• and the staff of the Buddhist Publication Society
• and British Maurice O'Connell Walshe (translator of The Long Discourses of the Buddha),
• who in turn had such a preponderant influence on Wisdom Quarterly: American Buddhist Journal that, were it not for PTS and BPS, there would be no WQ in the English language.

Why Pali and not Sanskrit?

Pali [Magadhi or Magadhi Prakrit, a lingua franca similar to but simpler than Vedic Sanskrit, the exclusive liturgy language of elitist Brahmin priests who adhered to the Old Vedic Religion that preceded Hinduism by thousands of years] is the language of the most complete collection of early Buddhist texts, the Pali canon or Ti-pitaka (the collected Buddhist texts in "Three Baskets" of suttas, vinaya, and abhidhamma), which constitutes "the word of the historical Buddha" as handed down by the tradition of Theravada (the "Teachings of the Enlightened Elders of the Buddha") Buddhism for over 2,000 years.

Since 1881 the Pali Text Society has promoted the study of Pali texts by publishing editions, translations, and other works related to the study of Pali literature.

On the new website one can purchase PTS publications, download many PTS publications for FREE, and find other material and links related to the study of Pali Buddhist texts.

One can also support the Society by becoming a member, getting a 20% discount on all purchases: palitextsociety.org

• The official site of the Pali Text Society (PTS)
• Pali Text Society c/o Gravita Oxford LLP
• First Floor, Park Central 40 - 41 Park End Street
• Oxford, Oxfordshire OX1 1JD
• UK Telephone: +44 (0)7436 534 179
• Skype: palitextsociety
• Email: info@palitextsociety.org