Tipitaka Network: Pali Document Framework

Pali study book list

Pali language textbooks (in English)

  1. A Graduated Pali Course by Ven. Sumangala Suriyagoda Thera
  2. A New Course in Reading Pali by James W Gair and W S Karunatillake
  3. A Pali Grammar for Students by Steven Collins
  4. A Pali Reader by Denes Andersen
  5. An Elementary Pali Course by Ven. Narada Thera
  6. Introduction to Pali by A K Warder
  7. The New Pali Course Parts I-III by Ven. Prof. A P Buddhadatta Mahathera
  8. Pali Buddhist Texts: An Introductory Reader and Grammar by Rune E A Johansson
  9. Pali Made Easy by Ven. B Ananda Maitreya Mahathera
  10. Pali Metre by A K Warder
  11. Pali Primer by Lily de Silva
  12. Pali Workbook by VRP

Pali grammar reference

  1. A Practical Grammar of the Pali Language by Charles Duroiselle
  2. Pali Grammar by Wilhelm Geiger
  3. Pali Grammar by V Perniola
  4. Pali Grammar, A Phonetic and Morphological Sketch by J Minayeff

Advance reference and tool books

  1. A Dictionary of Pali (Part I, A-Kh) by Margaret Cone
  2. A Handbook of Pali Literature by Oskar von Hinuber
  3. An Introduction to Kachchayana's Grammar of the Pali Language (1863) by James de Alwis
  4. Buddhist Dictionary, A Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines by Ven. Nyanatiloka Mahathera
  5. Dictionary of Pali Proper Names by G.P. Malalasekera
  6. English-Pali Dictionary by Ven. Prof. A P Buddhadatta Mahathera
  7. Handbook of Pali by O. Frankfurter
  8. Humour in Pali Literature and Other Essays by Ven. Walpola Rahula Thera
  9. Pali, A Grammar of the Language of the Theravada Tipitaka by Thomas Oberlies
  10. Pali-English Dictionary by T.W. Rhys Davids and William Stede
  11. Pali-English Dictionary by Ven. Prof. A P Buddhadatta Mahathera
  12. Pali Literature and Language by Wilhelm Geiger
  13. The Pali Literature of Ceylon by G.P. Malalasekera

Discussion: If you are still unsure about what books to read, or you have another book to recommend, please email the Pali group at pali@yahoogroups.com.

Major revision history
Issue 2: 2009.01.22 YPO - Updated listing
Issue 1: 2008.08.03 YPO - Expanded list with 3 sections
Issue 0: 2008.07.27 YPO - Initial release