The Royal Donation of the International Tipiṭaka Edition in Roman script 2005
for the Western World from the Kingdom of Thailand

A Documentary Presented by
Tipiṭaka Patron and Co-Chairman of Tipiṭaka Pilgrimage to Sweden, 2005

The World Tipiṭaka Project

by The M.L.Maniratana Bunnag Dhamma Society Fund
under the Patronage of His Holiness the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand

Firstly, I would like to express my appreciation for the opportunity to explain the reasons why the Kingdom of Sweden should be presented with the world’s first Pāḷi Tipiṭaka in Roman script (the International edition of 1957, published in the Roman alphabet in B.E. 2548 or 2005 A.D.).

Two Editions of Pāḷi Tipiṭaka Printing by the Thai Nation

In the year 112 of the Ratanakosin or the Bangkok Era 112, or 1893 A.D., King Chulalongkorn Chulachomklao of Siam presented over 260 sets of the Pāḷi Tipiṭaka, a Buddhist Canon in Pāḷi language printed in the Siam Script, to the Kingdom of Sweden. One copy was given to Uppsala University in Uppsala, Sweden. Ever since the Tipiṭaka has been kept in the university and it is still in a very good condition.

112 years later, or in 2005, the world’s first International Pāḷi Tipiṭaka in Roman script was completed by the collaboration of the Thai and international scholars and there is a plan to present this edition to institutions that received the King’s royal gift in 1893.

Tipiṭaka Network in Europe

Uppsala University has treasured the King of Siam’s Tipiṭaka for 112 years and the citizens of this town have shown a genuine interest in the study of Tipiṭaka. They have made a request to the Dhamma Society Fund Thailand for a new edition in Roman script. This coincides with the wish of the Dhamma Society to donate the Roman-script Tipiṭaka  to recipients of the 1893 Siam-script edition. The Dhamma Society has realized the potential of Uppsala University as a centre for Tipiṭaka Studies and the dissemination of knowledge about Buddhasāsana in order to bring peace and wisdom to the world.

Not many people realize that the strong tie between Thailand and Sweden can be traced back to 1893 or the Bangkok Era 112, when King Chulalongkorn Chulachomklao presented the Tipiṭaka in Siam-script edition to Sweden. This was followed by the King of Siam first visit to Europe in 1897. The visit was for political reasons as the King wished to strengthen the tie with the Swedish monarch, King Oscar II of Sweden.

Learning about this, I followed the King’s footsteps and eventually...

Uppsala University in Sweden, Established in B.E. 2020 (1477)

Uppsala University is one of the international institutions to receive the Pāḷi Tipiṭaka 1893 edition from King Chulalongkorn Chulachomklao of Siam, and the royal gift of Tipiṭaka is well kept in Uppsala University Library, Carolina Rediviva, one of Sweden’s oldest and best known libraries in the world.

The university is 528 years old and it has produced a great number of world famous graduates, such as Carl von Linne, known as Father of Botany, Dr. Anders Celsius, who invented the Celsius system. Six scientists who graduated from or worked for this university were Nobel Prize recipients. Dr. Dag Hammarskjold, the former U.N. Secretary-General, was a native of Uppsala and an alumnus of the university.

Preparation for the Royal Tipiṭaka Donation

Finding the representative institution in the West for inaugural presentation of
Tipiṭaka in Roman script started as early as in 2003 by Patrons from Dhamma Society Thailand

Presentation Policy of the Royal Gift of Tipiṭaka

The Dhamma Society considers it appropriate that Uppsala University be presented with the new international Tipiṭaka in Roman-script edition. Uppsala University’s personnel are highly qualified, making it a suitable knowledge-based university which will lead to the development of a wisdom-based society in the future. As the university has expressed its wish to obtain a the Romanized Tipiṭaka, this could lead to an expansion of the Tipiṭaka Studies at an international level.

Reasons for Presenting the Roman-script Tipiṭaka Edition to Sweden

As already mentioned, the Dhamma Society consider that Uppsala University in Uppsala, Sweden should be, among the institutions, towns, and countries, to be presented with the International Tipiṭaka in Roman-script edition. It is earnestly hoped that the university will promote the study of the Tipiṭaka, or The Tipiṭaka Studies as that peace and wisdom for the humanity will be achieved.

Tipiṭaka Patron and co-Chairman of Tipiṭaka Pilgrimage to Sweden, 2005,
in a multi-media Tipiṭaka documentary presentation

To day, I would like to ask for your support to ensure the success of this special project which is of great meritorious deeds. Generally, Buddhists in Thailand have propagated Buddhasāsana by supporting monks, making donations to temples and observing the Dhamma teachings but they have not been involved in the propagation of Tipiṭaka. This will be an opportunity for Buddhists to spread the words of the Buddha to the world at large which will in return bring Peace and Wisdom to all.

Thank you for your attention.
February, 2005 

For more information of the Royal Tipiṭaka Presentation Policy Worldwide

For more information of the Royal Gift at Uppsala University today

For more information of Tipiṭaka in the Carolina Library