This collection, entitled Exploring the Sacred, Ancient Path in the Original Words of the Buddha (Exploring the Path or ETP), offers readers and followers of the Buddha’s teaching a comprehensive survey and a practical resource for applying these ancient truths to daily life. While the series serves as a Pāli study program, those who wish to focus solely on the English translations and commentary will find profound clarification and inspiration for their journey.
Part One focused on the Buddha’s discourses regarding the rare good fortune of living in an era where his teachings remain available in both theory (pariyatti) and practice (paṭipatti).
Part Two, So Well Explained and Utterly Pure, begins the exploration of the Noble Eightfold Path (ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo), focusing specifically on the section of wisdom (paññā) with its two components. This volume examines right view (sammādiṭṭhi), which serves as the path's forerunner by establishing the perspective of liberation, and right thought (sammāsaṅkappo), which fosters the goodwill and non-harm necessary for a harmonious life. Through selected suttas—including many familiar to Vipassanā students from the discourses of S.N. Goenka—and extensive introductions, the text points toward experiential realization through self-observation and insight. While these components of wisdom initiate the journey, the course emphasizes that they are ultimately fulfilled through a moral lifestyle and the dedicated practice of meditation.
Key Features of Part Two:
- Right view (sammādiṭṭhi): Explores the forerunner of the path, which sets the perspective and envisions the ultimate goal of liberation.
- Right thought (sammāsaṅkappo): Emphasizes non-harm and goodwill, providing the mental foundation for a life of harmony.
- Experiential realization: The selected suttas and extensive introductions serve as a roadmap toward tenacious self-observation and the application of insight.
- Lifestyle and meditation: While wisdom components precede the other factors of the path, they are ultimately fulfilled through a moral lifestyle and the dedicated practice of meditation.
Exploring the Path as a course represents a collection of Pāli lessons that are
brought to life in "bite-sized" sections with custom glossaries that allow a new
student to quickly absorb some of the most valuable teachings of the Buddha
right from the beginning of the course. The approach to learning is one driven
by a student’s desire to understand the underlying content.
Initially planned as a simple handout of selected suttas for participants of a Pāli workshop, it turned into an online Pāli Learning Program with vocabulary tools, audio for pronunciation and introductions to each sutta. Each lesson is presented with a short summary, an introduction—highlighting the context of the sutta with references to the Tipiṭaka, the commentaries, the historical background, and quotes offering a deeper understanding of the respective content—as well as Pāli and English presented side-by-side with selective vocabulary
Rather than approaching
the Pāli language with a list of vocabulary and linguistic rules,
the lessons use custom glossaries to ease the student into the more complex
tasks. The learning then comes from familiarity rather than memorization.
The course aims to keep the student motivated through the unfolding of these
ancient texts; learning the language becomes a natural by-product of the
process. It also intends to stir a student to further self-study by referring to
the complete suttas via online resources, aiding one to become more familiar
with the Tipiṭaka.
A concise ‘Introduction and Guide to Pāli Pronunciation and Grammar’ can be found in the first book, Part One: Dullabho, offering a convenient tool to look up Pāli syntax, declensions or conjugations whenever needed. Most lessons are expected to take a Pāli student somewhere between
20 and 45 minutes to complete. These lessons are intended to be sufficient
keeping a student engaged, but not so overwhelming that they can’t fit into an
already busy schedule, even so to maintain their original spirit, some lessons
include longer passages than others. Some suttas are divided into more parts
and presented in different sub-chapters according to the provided contents.
Each lesson is introduced with a short summary, an Introduction, and Pāli
and English presented side-by-side with selective vocabulary. The student is
encouraged additionally to refer to one of the various Pāli dictionaries for
further references. Someone who prefers to read the Pāli directly without the
English translation, undergo some vocabulary training and listen to the audio
recordings may refer to the online version.
Endorsements
If you wish to receive the Buddha's teaching in his own words, or as close to them as possible; if you had a taste of Pāli, found it sweet and want some more – this book may be a real gift for you. While providing all the essential basic linguistic knowledge, it soon delves into the heart of the teaching, thus offering a bridge of inspiration to help students cross the hurdles of learning an ancient language. Taking these short lessons, you'll find that you are learning what the Buddha taught while learning Pāli, and learning Pāli while learning what the Buddha taught.
In my years of research and, most importantly, of practicing Vipassana, I found it helpful not to be entirely dependent on translations. Learning even a little bit of Pāli removes some of the buffers and assists in getting more of the meaning and message. And getting more of the message supports walking the path. I've also found it best to learn the theory from those who truly practice. I don't think that it is possible to thoroughly understand the depths and subtleties of the Buddha's words without continuously trying to actualize them. For me, the author of this book is therefore ideal to learn from: his life-long practice of the path joins the knowledge of the ancient language to support a deep understanding of the teaching.
—Michal Barnea-Astrog (PhD), author of Carved by Experience (Karnac, 2017), Psychoanalytic and Buddhist Reflections on Gentleness (Routledge, 2019) and other books
Klaus Nothnagel's new Pali study series is an amazing tool for studying Pali through the Buddha's teachings. I am so impressed by the tremendous effort he has put into it and its completeness. I highly recommend it!
Goenkaji always encouraged pariyatti (the theoretical study of Dhamma) as an important adjunct to paṭipatti (our practice). Now with this new Pali series, Klaus Nothnagel has cleverly combined lessons in Pali with key excerpts from the Buddha’s teachings. The result is both revealing and inspirational and an invaluable companion for serious students of Vipassana.
A masterfully crafted book that summarizes the Pali language in all its depth, yet in a way that makes it accessible to non-academic students of the Dhamma. Just as the on-line and in-person courses that Klaus has developed, it paves the way for a deeper personal understanding of the Buddha's teachings in an inspiring way!
—Jeff Glenn, Linguistics Scholar and Vipassana Practitioner
You now have in your hands this long-anticipated, well-tested, and thorough guide to the preserved teaching of the Buddha. May you make good use and achieve your aspirations.
—Rick Crutcher, Treasurer, Vipassana Community Foundation
Read more about Klaus Nothnagel and the making of his Pāli course Exploring the Sacred, Ancient Path in the Original Words of the Buddha.
Watch the interview with Klaus Nothnagel about 'Exploring the Path'.
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