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The World Tipiṭaka Recitation for Wisdom and Peace

Court Circulation

At least 5,000 people in Bangkok participated at the World Tipiṭaka Recitation at the Bangkok Town Hall on Monday 8, April 2008. The event was specially organised to dedicate merits to the late HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana, the Royal Patron of the World Tipiṭaka in Roman script.

Leading the solemn and meritorious ceremony was the Governor of Bangkok, himself, a patron World Tipiṭaka.

Earlier this year, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration became one of the institutional Tipiṭaka Patrons by supporting the publication of the 40-volume set of the Pali Tipiṭaka in Roman script for distribution worldwide. The Royal Donation project was initiated by HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana, the Royal Matriarch of Thailand who passed away this year on January 2, 2008.

The Tipiṭaka Recitation was organised on the occasion of the 100 days of merit-making ceremony for the late Princess Patron by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and the Dhamma Society Fund.

Three Tipiṭaka Quotations of the Buddha's in Pāḷi were selected from the newly printed 40-volume Tipiṭaka Edition in Roman Script which were finally completed after the 6-year work under the honorary presidency of the late Princess.

The Tipiṭaka Recitation, the first to be organised en mass in Thailand, was presided over by HRH Princess Somsawalee, who led the recitation of the translation in the Thai language after the Pāḷi Quotation from the World Tipiṭaka Edition. The successful event has demonstrated that people from all walks of life can participate in the Tipiṭaka Recitation with confidnece and ease.

The event was also practical for the spiritual life of the Bangkok residents; the recitation was meaningful and meritorious. Even those who are not familiar with the Pāḷi language, they can easily pronounce the Pāḷi sound in Roman-script Tipiṭaka by following the example of the recitation leader. Because of the universality of the Roman alphabet, the Tipiṭaka Recitation in Roman script can be easily organised worldwide.

A small and handy Tipiṭaka Recitation Manual also helps the mass gathering to recite in unison the Pāḷi Tipiṭaka and the translation in the Thai language. The Tipiṭaka Recitation has also created a new Tipiṭaka culture for mass participation for Princess Galyani's Tipiṭaka Project. It has opened a modern approach for individuals to study the Pāḷi Tipiṭaka --the wisdom-based Heritage of Humanity.