SV: Smith's books

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Fra: palistudy@yahoogroups.com [mailto:palistudy@yahoogroups.com] På vegne
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Sendt: 7. oktober 2005 09:15
Til: palistudy@yahoogroups.com
Emne: [palistudy] Smith's books

Dear Bhante Nyanatusita,

May thanks for putting together a list of titles and looking into ordering
some more books for BPS's stock. I'm also looking forward to hearing about
the mss project.

You asked:

>
> > How did Helmer's books come on the market? Shouldn't they not be in
> > a university library?

Adding to Ole's comment, I can only speak for those of his books which are
in Sinhalese script, of which I've seen books in the languages Pali,
Sanskrit and Sinhalese. Often Pali plus Sinhalese commentary/translation of
course. These have all been bound (in green) and often have stamps of the
Uppsala University library where I believe at least some of them remained
after Smith's death. Many of the ones I've seen are stamped has having been
'decommissioned' (or however you call it) from the library in the early-mid
seventies. This much I know. As for guesswork, I'd suspect that efter Smith
no-one in Uppsala could read the Sinhalese alphabet until Klas Hagren came
along. At that point he probably was allowed to take over the books, or
bought them cheaply from the library, since they weren't being used anyway.

<When Klas passed away in 2000 one would expect the books to revert to the
Oriental languages dept collection where a number of Smith's books remain,
including the Burmese Saddaniiti with Nissaya which he used in preparing his
Saddaniiti edition. However Klas left his books to a used bookstore. I don't
want to speculate here as to the reason for that.>

Do you mean to say that he sold his books to a second hand book shop before
he committed suicide?! At one point I started to wonder why he did not
contact me any longer. According to my information, he had a very serious
depression. He had stopped teaching and was on sick leave for quite some
time. This, of course, explains why I did not hear from him. Thinking of his
tragic demise makes me very sad.

<I'd personally like to see his books all collected in research libraries in
Copenhagen and Uppsala, but it appears to be too late for that. So I think
of it like the bones scattering in the dasa asubha bhaavanaa.>

You are right. On the other hand Pali studies are no longer in focus. You
have to address the occult world of modern western Academia to understand
the reason for this general neglect. Ignorance is, I believe, part of the
explanation. So let the scattered books remain with those individuals who
out of interest bought them or otherwise came into possession of them and
found room for them on their book shelves.

Best,

Ole


I took a look yesterday and found the following titles on the shelves for
sale, APOLOGIES FOR TYPOS as I'm in a hurry. The titles should be close
enough to give an idea. The best titles have, of course, already been sold.
For instance I found Smith's Kaccaayanasuttaniddesa there. Here's the link
to their online catalogue: http://www.redins.se/

paali-muttaka-vinaya-vinicchaya-sangaga.tiikaa, 1908, signed H Smith with
notes, mostly cross references

Sikkhaapada-velañjan, B-2451, Pali

Kokila Sandesaya ('cuckoo messenger') a Sinhalese Kaavya, 1924

Mayuura Sandesya ("The Peacock Messenger") 1910, Sinhalese Kaavya

Yogasatakaya, by 'Naagarjuna', 1898, brown binding, in Sanskrit (sinhalese
alphabet) and Sinhalese.

Saangaadhara, 1924, Sanskrit text (sinhalese characters)/Sinhalese
commentary. Appears to be on anatomy or surgery.

Cariya-pi.taka 1904 Pali/Sinhalese comm or tr.

Daham Sara.naa, 1929, Sinhalese

Saararttha-diipikaa nanuu jaatakaartthakatthaa-vyaakhyaava, 1926, Pali and
Sinhalese comm/tr

Kaayaviratigaathaa, 1915, Pali and Sinhalese

Sidat-sanguraa-vistara-sannaye, 1903, Signed H. Smith, Pali and Sinhalese,
extensive penciled marginalia possibly from learning Pali (lots of simple
comparisons to Sanskrit forms)

Kaayasekara 1872

Kaayasekhara 1931

Mahaabodhiva.msa 1891 Sinhalese

Guptila Kaavya 192? Signed H. Smith, Sinhalese

Singana Kollaa, ("The Beggar Boy") 1929, Modern Sinhalese Novel

Ruhu.nu.maaga.mpura-var.nanava, 1920, travelogue, Sinhalese with photographs

Ruvanmaala (piyumaalaa) by Paraakrama Baahu VI, 1892

best regards,

/Rett



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