Dear Jim,
Buddhaghosa College and Section 25 of Mahachulalongkorn
Rajavidyalaya (Mahachula for short) are connected, but they
are not the same thing. Section 25 is not officially "in" Wat
Mahathat; however, section 25 is on the grounds of Wat
Mahathat (Mahaadhaatu) as part of Mahachulalongkorn Monastic
University. A monk, mae chi, or novice can be a part of Wat
Mahathat and not be a student of Mahachulalongkorn and vice
versa. They share grounds, but are not completely connected
administratively.
As regards to Mahachulalongkorn Monastic University (one of
the two premier monastic universities in Thailand (Mahamakut
Monastic University being the other). Both have several branch
campuses. Buddhaghosa College is one of these branch campuses
(in Nakorn Pathom about 30 miles from Bangkok). It is a
specialists campus for the study of Pali grammar and
literature (Paliseuksa), as opposed to other divisions in
modern Thai monastic curricula--Dhammaseuksa and Samanseuksa.
In many ways Buddhaghosa College is becoming the "main campus"
of Mahachulalongkorn, because of classroom space problems and
transportation at Mahachula. I would guess that many teachers
and students will moce to the Nakorn Pathom campus over the
next ten years. The same thing is happening to the secular
Thammasat University (which is next to Mahachula) in Tha Phra
Chan. Undergraduates have been moved to the Rangsit Campus
near the Don Muang Airport because of space issues (and maybe
to take away the power of Thammasat U. as a center of Thai
"radicalism" over the past 35 years, many former socialist
professors at Thammasat have protested this move).
As for donations, Phra Yuttadhammo is absolutely correct.
Section 25 does great work and has lots of students who the
teachers serve for free. They also produce (esp. Phra Sompong)
lots of high quality books (expensive binding, good acid free
paper, etc.) and distribute them for free. I studied there and
was always treated with kindness (well, unless I made a
mistake with my Pali grammar -- then they were very tough!)
and was very impressed with the dedication of the teachers who
are crammed into a little building with a small basement
classroom. They need the donations and most likely were the
publishers of the books you received.
Buddhaghosa College is growing quickly and they are involved
with the Tripitaka project started out of Mahidol University.
I am not sure what direction they will take, but it certainly
is articulated by the teachers there as in the tradition of
Siamese "renewal." Some see this as Thai chauvanism and
triumphalism, others see it as a great start to jumpstarting
Pali study (which has become very fashionable among the middle
class in Bangkok). All the better I suppose. Still, these
projects can obscure as much as they illuminate, but the
intentions are good, and there are some really smart people
involved in the whole campus project.
I have written a book on this structure and the basic
breakdown of the history of the two universities lineages
(Mahachula and Mahamakut). It will be
published soon in a shortened form. I will tell you when it is
published (sometime in early 2007 I think).
I also wrote a basic overview of Pali Study in
Thailand, that will be part of larger project on contemporary
Pali scholarship in Thailand. It can be mailed as a draft to
interested parties (I would
like comments and criticism). I should have time when classes
end in June. The diacritics are in an old
system, so snail mailing would be the easiest. If you want
this basic overview please send me your address
and I will send you the draft.
As for contacting Buddhaghosa College, you can e-mail them at:
buddhakosa@... or snail mail them at:
Mahachulalongkorn Rachawithayalai, Withayalai Baliseuksa
Phutthakot, Nakorn Pathom, Wat Mahasawatnakphuttharam, Tambon
Homkret, Amphur Samphran, Changwat Nakorn Pathom 73170. Or
call (034) 299-356. I would address your letter to: Chakkrit
Chandradam (assistant to the dean). Since they have trouble
cashing checks sometime, I would enquire about the way they
receive donations (probably wire transfer).
I hope this helps.
Best,
justin
---- Original message ----
>Date: Mon, 15 May 2006 10:04:43 -0400
>From: "Jim Anderson" <jimanderson_on@...>
>Subject: Re: [palistudy] Padarupasiddhi
>To: <palistudy@yahoogroups.com>
>
>Dear Justin,
>
>Do you have the address and whom to make payment to for those
interested in
>donating money for supporting the publication of Pali
grammatical texts by
>Buddhaghosa College?
>
>I've had four of these wonderful texts sent to me and would
like to make a
>donation.
>
>I don't know if I have a complete list of these publications,
but I wonder
>if the list of 23 grammatical texts on pages xxxix-xl of their
>Kaccaayanava.n.nanaa could be it. It's near the end of Phra
Maha Nimitr's
>introduction (dated 2547). It begins with 1) Kaarikaa and
ends with 23)
>Niruttibhedasa"ngaha.
>
>Best wishes and thanks for any information you can provide,
>
>Jim
>
>Your response to Phra Yuttadhammo's message:
>> I used to study in this section of Wat Mahadhatu. It was
>> actually founded by the lineage of Phra Dhammananda from Burma
>> (based at Wat Thamma-O). The head teacher, Phra Sompong
>> Mudito, is a very dedicated teacher and kind person.
>> Yes, he indeed does a lot of work and receives very little
>> funding. However, he has gathered lots of lay and ordained
>> students for evening classes, including many lay women and Mae
>> Chi.
>> Thanks for bringing his work to the attention of the group.
>> Best,
>> jm
>>
>
>
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______________
Dr. Justin McDaniel
Dept. of Religious Studies
2617 Humanities Building
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA 92521
909-827-4530
justinm@...