Master of Arts Degree in Pali Studies

Scope and Content of Course

The Master of Arts degree course in Pali Studies is designed to develop in student the skill inreading and comprehending Pali sources and to enhance their knowledge of deferent aspects of the Pali language and literature in particular and Buddhist teachings in general. The duration of this course is one year.

Eligibility for Admission

Basic Knowledge of Buddhism and a good command of Pali language is a pre-requisite for admission to the course. Candidates seeking admission to this Course in Pali Studies should have at least one of the following qualifications:

i. Special Degree in Pali

 or

ii. Special Degree with Pali as a subsidiary subject or A General Degree with Pali as a subject

 or

iii. A pass at the final examination of the Oriental Studies Society (Sri Lanka)

 or

iv. A Pass at the Final Certificate of Vidyodaya & Vidyalankara Pirivena

 or

v. A pass at the Postgraduate Diploma in Pali from a recognized University / Institute

 or

vi. Any other qualification acceptable to the Faculty Board of the Institute.

Requirements for the Course of Study

The Master of Arts Degree course in Pali Studies consists of five course units and an essay of approximately 5000 words, which is considered to be the sixth unit.

The course units are as follows:

MPE 01: Prescribed Texts: Pali Canonical Literature

MPE 02: Prescribed Texts: Pali Non-Canonical Literature

MPE 03: Pali Advanced Grammar and Composition

MPE 04: History of Pali Literature

MPE 05: Pali Poetry and Prosody

MPE 06: Extended Essay

Course Structure

The course is of one year’s duration and consists of three terms of ten weeks each. Each course unit will have a minimum of one hour a week in the form of a lecture, followed by tutorial guidance and seminar discussions.

Evaluation

i. Two assignments for each course unit: 10 marks per assignment

ii. A three-hour Final Year Examination for each course unit: 80 marks per course unit

iii. Essay: 100 marks

Grades

75 - 100 - A - Distinction

65 - 74 - B - Credit

50 - 64 - C - Pass

00 - 49 - W - Weak

(I) Merit Pass

Having an average of 75 for all units with not less than 50 for any unit.

(II) Pass

Marks between 45 - 49 for one course unit with average of 50 for all units is considered pass.

Syllabus for Master of Arts Degree in Pali Studies

Course Code: MPE 01

Course Title: Prescribed Texts: Pali Canonical Literature

Aim

To provide the students with a thorough knowledge of the Pali canonical literature through reading the prescribed texts

Content

The content of this corse includes the Prescribed texts. The Selected passages from the following

prescribed texts will be read with a view to developing analytical and critical skills in the students

to prepare them to use Pali canonical texts as sources for advanced research.

i. Dīghanikāya: Brahmajāla Sutta, Sāmaññaphala Sutta, Poṭṭhapāda Sutta, Mahāparinibbāna utta,Mahāpadāna Sutta, Aggañña Sutta

ii. Majjhimanikāya: Mūlapariyāya Sutta, Sammādiṭṭhi Sutta, Alagaddūpama Sutta, Madhupinḍika Sutta, Ghaṭīkāra Sutta, Ambalaṭṭhikarāhulovāda Sutta

iii. Suttanipāta: Aṭṭhaka Vagga, Pārāyana Vagga

iv. Vinaya: Cullavagga Khuddakavatthukkhandha

v. Kathāvatthu: Sabbamatthikathā

vi. Any other text selected from the canonical literature

Method of Teaching and Learning

Lectures, discussions and assignments

Method of Evaluation

Two assignments

Final year examination

Expected Learning Outcome

At the end of this course, the students will be able to:

1. Critically analyze the sentence patterns and read the Pali sentences correctly;

2. Demonstrate mastery of the Pali language and comprehend the content of the prescribed texts;

3. Demonstrate the ability to understand the Buddhist teachings as shown in selected Pali passages;

4. Begin to access the canonical original sources for their advanced research.

Recommended References

Anuruddha, Kakkapalliye, (2010). A Guide to the Study of Pali: The Language of Theravada

Buddhism, Center of Buddhism Studies, The University of Hong Kong.

Hinüber, Oskar Von. (2001). Handbook of Pali Literature, New Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal.

Jayawardhana, S. (1994). Handbook of Pali Literature, Colombo: Karunaratne & Sons Ltd.

Law, B.C. (1933). A History of Pali Literature, London: Indica.

Buddhist Publication Society.

Norman, K.R. (1983). Pāli Literature: Including the Canonical Literature in Prakrit and Sanskrit

of All the Hīnayāna Schools of Buddhism. Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz.

Course Code: MPE 02

Course Title: Prescribed Texts: Pali Non-Canonical Literature

Aim

To give a broader understanding in non-canonical Pali literature through reading prescribed texts

selected from among a spectrum of Pali works belonging to deferent periods of composition

Content

The content of this course includes the Prescribed Texts. The selected passages from the following

prescribed texts will be read with a view to develop analytical and critical skills in the students to

prepare them to use Pali Non-canonical texts as sources for advanced research.

i. Milindapañha - Sabbaññutañāna

ii. Nettippakaraṇa - Niddesavāra

iii. Visuddhimagga - Paññābhūminiddesa

iv. Papañcasūdanī - Mūlapariyāyasuttavaṇṇanā

v. Manorathapūranī - Etadaggavagga

vi. Samantapāsādikā - Suttavibaṅga-vaṇṇanā-parājikā

vii. Dīghanikāyatīkā - Mahāparrinibbāna-sutta-vaṇṇanā-ṭīkā

viii. Sāratthadīpani - Dhaniyavattu-vaṇṇanā

ix. Abhidhammāvatāra – Paññattivāra

x. Any other text selected from the non-canonical literature

Method of Teaching

Lectures, discussions and assignments

Method of Evaluation

Two assignments

Final year examination

Expected Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course, the students will be able to:

1. Critically analyze the sentence patterns and read the Pali sentences correctly;

2. Demonstrate mastery of the Pali language and comprehend the content of the prescribed texts;

3. Demonstrate the ability to understand the Buddhist teachings as shown in selected Pali passages;

4. Begin to access the non-canonical original sources for advanced research.

Recommended for Reference

Hinüber, Oskar Von. (2001). Handbook of Pali Literature, New Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal.

Jayawardhana, S. (1994). Handbook of PaliLiterature, Colombo: Karunaratne & Sons Ltd.

Law, B.C. (1933). A History of Pali Literature, London: Indica.

Malalasekera, G.P. (1994). The Pali Literature of Ceylon, Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society.

Norman, K.R. (1983). Pāli Literature: Including the Canonical Literature in Prakrit and Sanskrit

of All the Hīnayāna Schools of Buddhism. Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz.

Course Code: MPE 03

Course Title: Pali Advanced Grammar and Composition

Aim

To provide the students with an advanced knowledge in Pali grammar and to develop their skills

in composing Pali essays

Content

The course content includes an examination of linguistic peculiarities such as sound system,

accent, law of morae, vowels, consonants, saṃpasāraṇa, svarabhakti, sandhi, syntax of cases,nouns, declension of nouns, pronouns, declecnsion of pronouns, numerals, declension of numerals,

verbs, conjugation of verbs of the Pali language with reference to other Indian languages such as Prakrit, Sanskrit and Buddhist Sanskrit.

Method of Teaching

Lectures, discussions and assignments

Method of Evaluation

Two assignments

Final year examination

Expected Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course, the students will be able to demonstrate an adequate knowledge in linguistic peculiarities of the Pali language with reference to Prakrit, Sanskrit and Buddhist Sanskrit.

Recommended References

Buddhadatta, A.P. (1951). The Higher Pali Course for Advanced Students, Colombo: Colombo Apothecaries.

Geiger, W. (1994). Pali Grammar, revised by K.R. Norman, London: Pali Text Society.

(1978). Pali Literature and Language, New Delhi: Oriental Book Reprint Corporation.

Warder, A.K. (2001). Introduction to Pali, Oxford: Pali Text Society.

Wijesekara, O.H. De A. (1993). Syntax of the Cases in the Pali Nikāyas, PGIPBS.

Course Code: MPE 04

Course Title: History of Pali Literature

Aim

To provide the students with a critical knowledge in Pali literature

Content

The course content includes Pali canonical literature, post-canonical pre-commentarial literature,

commentarial works, sub-commentarial works, chronicles, pakarana literature, poetry, and Pali

works written in other Buddhist countries. An examination of the tradition of the oral transmission

of the Buddhist scriptures will be a main feature of this study.

Method of Teaching

Lectures, discussions and assignments

Method of Evaluation

Two assignments

Final year examination

Expected Learning Outcome

At the end of this course, the students will be able to stratify and explain in details of the different

genres of Pali literature.

Recommended References

Adikaram, E.W. (1994). Early History of Buddhism in Ceylon, Colombo: Buddhist Cultural Centre.

Bode, Mabel Haynes, (2009). Pali Literature of Burma, Royal Asiatic Society, London.

Endo, Toshiichi, (2013). Studies in Pāli Commentarial Literature, Hong Kong: Center of

Buddhism Studies, The University of Hong Kong.

Hinüber, Oskar Von. (2001). Handbook of Pali Literature, New Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal.

Jayawardhana, S. (1994). Handbook of Pali Literature, Colombo: Karunaratne & Sons Ltd.

______(1995). A Critical Introduction to the study of Pali Tikās, Sesquicentennial

Commemorative Volume, Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka. pp. 285-318.

Law, B.C. (1933). A History of Pali Literature, London: Indica.

Malalasekera, G.P. (1994). The Pali Literature of Ceylon, Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society.

Norman, K.R. (1983). Pāli Literature: Including the Canonical Literature in Prakrit and Sanskrit

of All the Hīnayāna Schools of Buddhism. Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz.

Saddhatissa, H. (1992). Pali Literature of South-East Asia, Singapore.

Winternitz, M. (1988). History of Indian Literature, Vol. II, New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass.

Course Code: MPE 05

Course Title: Pali Poetry and Prosody

Aim

To provide the students with an in-depth knowledge in prosody (chandas) and rhetoric (alaṅkāra)

of Pali and thereby to develop their skills in composing poetry in Pali

Content

The Vuttodaya (a work on Pali prosody) and the Subodhālaṅkāra (a work on Pali rhetoric), two

traditional Pali works, will serve as the primary source materials of this course. Selections from

Pali works such as the Hatthavanagallavihāranaṃsa and the Samantakūṭavaṇṇanā will be read to

supplement the study in prosody.

Method of Teaching

Lectures, discussions and assignments

Method of Evaluation

Two assignments

Final year examination

Expected Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course, the students will be able to demonstrate their skills in prosody (chandas)

and rhetoric (alaṅkāra) of Pali by analyzing Pali verses and composing verses in Pali language.

Recommended References

Warder, A.K. (1967). Pali Metre, London: PTS.

Course Code: MPE 06

Course Title: Extended Essay

Content

The students are required to write an essay on a topic selected in consultation with any of the instructors of the Course and approved by the Director of the Institute. The essay should contain not less than 5000 words and must either be a study/analysis of a Pali text (or part thereof) or a study of any subject (doctrinal or otherwise) directly based on the study or analysis of Pali texts. All students are required to submit their essay titles before the end of the second term. The essay should be submitted within 30 days from the date of the last paper the students sat in the Final Examination.