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A Handbook of Pali Literature (Indian Philology and South Asian Studies, V. 2)

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Dr. Von Hinuber's years of experience in translating Pali scriptures are apparent in this Handbook of Pali Literature; it is for both the amature and the professional. Hinuber makes sense of the mass of Pali material available for those interested in a doctrinal foundation in their study and practice of Buddhism. First he starts with the Tipitaka, going through each of the 3 baskets and explaining various points of interest in external and internal structures. He touches upon issues such as how scholars know how certain suttas are older than others, how certain suttas were used in writing other suttas or how they were used in building other Nikayas. In all of this he gives regular and pertinent referrence to the Commentaries, thus sheding light, in short space, on how the Commentaries see various developments in the Tipitaka.

After finishing with the Tipitaka, he then performs the same duty with the Commentaries. This book, with its wide range of referrences and bibliography, is an invaluable tool for the student of Buddhist Studies.