Thomas William Rhys Davids founds the Pali Text Society (1881)

Thomas William Rhys Davids founded the Pali Text Society in London in 1881 to promote the study of Pali texts. His motivation stemmed from his civil service career in Sri Lanka, where he learned the Pali Canon from Dhammarama. The society aimed to make Buddhist literature accessible to Western scholars.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. Thomas William Rhys Davids was a Welsh scholar of the Pali language. His motivation for founding the Pali Text Society originated from his Civil Service career in Sri Lanka. During this time, he was taught the Pali Canon by Dhammarama, which inspired him to dedicate his public career to the study and publication of these texts.

Purpose. The Pali Text Society was established to foster and promote the study of Pali texts, which are the oldest collection of Buddhist scriptures preserved in their original language. The society aimed to render Buddhist literature accessible to others, focusing on the translation, publication, and teaching of the Pali language.

Context. Rhys Davids was one of three British civil servants posted to Sri Lanka in the 19th century. His work in the region laid the groundwork for the society's founding. The society became a major force in promoting the study of Pali by Western scholars in Europe.

People involved

Sources

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