The International Tipiṭaka Collection & the International Tipiṭaka Hall

In 2000, the M.L. Maniratana Bunnag Dhamma Society Fund under the Patronage of the His Holiness the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand presented the International Tipiṭaka Collection as a Gift of Dhamma to the Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. This special donation, including the historic 39-volume Chulachomklao Raman V of Siam Tipiṭaka (1893) and very rare palm-leave manuscripts, is part of the Tipiṭaka Project in Roman Script to publish "the World Tipiṭaka Edition", a Romanized script of the Pāḷi-language scripture, based on the Chaṭṭhasaṅgῑti Tipiṭaka Edition B.E. 2500 (1957).

The Chaṭṭhasaṅgῑti Edition is the outcome of the one and the only Great International Buddhist Council held between B.E.2498-2500 (1954-57) in Burma. Between 1999-2005, the entire 40-volume manuscripts of the Pāḷi Tipiṭaka in Burmese scripts were proof-read anew and was finally published in Roman alphabet for the first time by the Dhamma Society. In preparing the Roman-scripted text for publication, the Dhamma Society has acquired from both at home and abroad all of the world's Tipiṭaka scriptures and made comparison in the proof-reading with all other Pāḷi texts from 11 edtions in various national scripts and translations in various languages.

Furthermore, during undertaking the proof-reading and publication process with Chulalongkorn University's volunteers, the Dhamma Society was proud to observe that the faculties and students from various departments, who worked in the Tipitaka Project, had held these sacred texts in high esteem. For this reason, the Dhamma Society wished to donate this International Tipiṭaka Collection, totalling over 2,000 items, to be permanently enshrined at Chulalongkorn University for the benefit of the entire university community. The Faculty of Arts accepted the donation from the Dhamma Society in August 2000 to become part of its library collection in connection with the Humanities Information Center of the Faculty.

Consequently, Chulalongkorn University established the International Tipiṭaka Hall to house this sacred collection. The International Tipiṭaka Hall was inagurated on September 20, 2000 by His Holiness the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand. the International Tipiṭaka Hall is located on the second floor of "Mahā Chulalongkorn Building", the oldest university building, the foundation stone of which was graciously laid by King Vajiravudh Rama VI, the Royal Founder of Chulalongkorn University. With the support by university alumni and Tipiṭaka patrons, this International Tipiṭaka Hall thus serves as the Hall of Dhamma Discourse, as well as, the place to house the most highly esteemed symbol both in Buddhasāsana and a research centre for the invaluable knowledge for all humankind.

Today the International Tipiṭaka Hall is open for the public on appointment.

e-Tipiṭaka Hall

In 2008, the World Tipiṭaka Project by Dhamma Society jointely launched an e-Tipiṭaka Hall as a gift of Dhamma to facilitate the in-depth study of Tipiṭaka on the internet. The Dhamma Society is grateful to have been supported by Princess Galyani's Tipiṭaka Endowment Fund.

The first phrase of the e-tipitaka Hall focuses on the digital archives of Chulachomklao of Siam Pāḷi Tipiṭaka.

See also www.tipitakastudies.net for Tipiṭaka Quotation in Roman script and www.dhammasociety.org for details of the World Tipiṭaka Project.