2024

Royce Wiles

  • Research Fellow
  • University of Canterbury
Picture of Royce Wiles

Program

The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Translation Grants in Buddhist Studies

Project

The Paramatthamañjusa of Dhammapala—Commentary on the Visuddhimagga of Buddhaghosa: Translation of the Chapter 14 on the Five Aggregates

Abstract

Buddhaghosa’s Visuddhimagga, dated before 489 CE, is the encyclopaedic keystone of the voluminous Theravada commentary tradition. The sub-commentary explicating the Visuddhimagga is entitled either Paramatthamanjusa—Treasure chest of ultimate truth—or simply Mahatika—Great sub-commentary. While there are complete translations of the Visuddhimagga into English and other languages, the Paramatthamanjusa has only been completely translated once into Burmese—Mahasi 1966-1969. This project creates a critical and annotated scholarly translation of Paramatthamañnusa’s Chapter 14 into English.