Skip to content

Pali-Canon

Prof. dr. Rob Janssen en Drs. Jan de Breet worden benoemd tot Ridder in de Order van Oranje Nassau

The Pali-Canon and the translators

The Pali-Canon is the body of sacred texts of Theravada-Buddhism (Pali: ‘Way of the Elders’). Theravada is the major form of Buddhism prevalent in Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. In the centuries following the Buddha’s departure or parinibbana  eighteen different Buddhist schools emerged: from these only Theravada survived.

In their hometown Oegstgeest in the Netherlands Prof. Rob Janssen (1931-2019) and Drs. Jan de Breet (1959 – 2021) began translating the Pali-Canon into Dutch in 1997. Their translations have been published in 15 volumes.  Prof. Ria Cloppenborg and Dr. Tonny Kurpershoek-Scherft each translated another volume. The series is appreciated not only because of their high scientific standards, but also their easy readability.

Indologist Jan de Breet graduated at Leiden University with a Master-dissertation on ‘the Perfection of Insight’, a Sanskrit text from the Mahayana tradition. He also translated ‘The historical Buddha’ by Hans Wolfgan Schumann from German to Dutch, and the Buddhacarita, again with Rob Janssen, from Sanskrit to Dutch. The complete bibliography of Jan de Breet can be found here

Rob Janssen [page to be translated] was professor emeritus  in  clinical psychology and personality theory at VU University in Amsterdam. He also worked as a psychotherapist. At Leiden University he studied  Pali and Sanskrit with Prof. Dr. T.E. Vetter. Rob Janssen published as one of his solo translation endeavours an annotated translation of the Sanskrit Diamond at Asoka publishers. A complete list of his publications can be found here

In 2013 Prof. Rob Janssen and drs. Jan de Breet have been knighted by Her Majesty Queen Beatrix in the Order of Oranje Nassau because of their great importance in spreading and recording of Buddhist values, especially their translation of the Pali-Canon. (A video-registration of this ceremony, made by the Dutch Buddhist Dayly, can be watched here ). Knighthood for translationwork is a rare occasion indeed, and it is proof of the importance of their work not only for science but also for the Dutch Buddhist community.

Non-profit
Up to 2018 all Dutch translations of the Pali-canon were published by Gerolf T’Hooft. From  January 1rst 2019 all copy-rights and the complete booksupply have been handed to our ANBI-certified association. The series will be published non-profit, and  T’Hooft has kindly accepted our request to help us with his publishing skills and knowledge. All revenues from booksale and donations will be used to maintain,  expand, and promote the series.

Read more



The Complete Series

Majjhima-Nikaya -The Middle-length Discourses of the Buddha – Complete Series
the complete series

This series contains all three volumes of the integral translation of the Majjhima-Nikaya (the middle-length discourses of the Buddha) in Dutch. The Majjhima-Nikaya (MN) is traditionally seen as the second set (nikaya) in the Sutta-Pitaka, after the Digha-NIkaya. The Sutta-Pitaka is the ‘basket’ of discourses  (sutta’s) atributed to the historical Buddha and his main disciples....

Digha-Nikaya – The Long Discourses of the Buddha
second, revised edition

The long discourses of the Buddha This book contains a comprehensive translation of the Digha-Nikaya (DN) in Dutch, ‘the long discourses’ of the Buddha. Traditionally the Digha-Nikaya is the first of the five collections (nikaya’s) of discourses in the Sutta-Pitaka: the ‘basket’ (pitaka) of the discourses (sutta’s) atributed to the historical Buddha and his main...

Majjhima-Nikaya – The Middle-length Discourses of the Buddha – Volume 1
The first group of fifty discourses (Mulapannasa)

The middle-length discourses of the Buddha This book contains an integral translation of the first part of the Majjhima-Nikaya (MN). The Majjhima-Nikaya is traditionally seen as the second set (nikaya) in the Sutta-Pitaka, after the Digha-NIkaya. The Sutta-Pitaka is the ‘basket’ of discourses  (sutta’s) atributed to the historical Buddha and his main disciples. The Sutta-Pitaka...

Majjhima-Nikaya – The Middle-length Discourses of the Buddha – Volume 2
The middle group of fifty discourses (Majjhimapannasa) - Majjhima Nikaya

The middle-length discourses of the Buddha This book contains an integral translation of the middle part of the Majjhima-Nikaya (MN). The Majjhima-Nikaya is traditionally seen as the second set (nikaya) in the Sutta-Pitaka, after the Digha-NIkaya. The Sutta-Pitaka is the ‘basket’ of discourses  (sutta’s) atributed to the historical Buddha and his main disciples. The Sutta-Pitaka...

Majjhima-Nikaya – The Middle-length Discourses of the Buddha – Volume 3
the final fifty discourses (Uparipannasa)

This book contains an integral Dutch translation of the third part of the Majjhima-Nikaya (MN), ‘The Middle-length discourses of the Buddha’. The Majjhima-Nikaya is traditionally seen as the second set (nikaya) in the Sutta-Pitaka, after the Digha-Nikaya. The Sutta-Pitaka is the ‘basket’ of discourses  (sutta’s) atributed to the historical Buddha and his main disciples. The...

Samyutta-Nikaya – The Connected Discourses of the Buddha – Complete Series
The complete serie

This series contains all of the five volumes of the integral Dutch translation of the Samyutta-Nikaya, ‘The Connected Discourses of the Buddha’. The Samyutta-Nikaya is traditionally seen as the third set (nikaya) in the Sutta-Pitaka, after the Digha-Nikaya and the Majjhima-Nikaya. The Sutta-Pitaka is the ‘basket’ of discourses  (sutta’s) attributed to the historical Buddha and...

Samyutta-Nikaya – The Connected Discourses of the Buddha – Part 1
The Book of Verses (Sagatha-Vagga)

This book contains the integral Dutch translation of the first volume of the Samyutta-Nikaya, ‘The Connected Discourses of the Buddha’. The Samyutta-Nikaya is traditionally seen as the third set (nikaya) in the Sutta-Pitaka, after the Digha-Nikaya and the Majjhima-Nikaya. The Sutta-Pitaka is the ‘basket’ of discourses  (sutta’s) attributed to the historical Buddha and his main...

Samyutta-Nikaya – The Connected Discourses of the Buddha – Part 2
The Book of Causes (Nidana-Vagga)

This book contains the integral Dutch translation of the first volume of the Samyutta-Nikaya, ‘The Connected Discourses of the Buddha’. The Samyutta-Nikaya is traditionally seen as the third set (nikaya) in the Sutta-Pitaka, after the Digha-Nikaya and the Majjhima-Nikaya. The Sutta-Pitaka is the ‘basket’ of discourses  (sutta’s) attributed to the historical Buddha and his main...

Samyutta-Nikaya – The Connected Discourses of the Buddha – Part 3
Het Deel der geledingen (Khandha-Vagga)

This book contains the integral Dutch translation of the third volume of the Samyutta-Nikaya, ‘The Connected Discourses of the Buddha’. The Samyutta-Nikaya is traditionally seen as the third set (nikaya) in the Sutta-Pitaka, after the Digha-Nikaya and the Majjhima-Nikaya. The Sutta-Pitaka is the ‘basket’ of discourses  (sutta’s) attributed to the historical Buddha and his main...

Samyutta-Nikaya – The Connected Discourses of the Buddha – Part 4
Salayatana-Vagga, 'The Volume of the Six Sense Spheres'

This book contains the integral Dutch translation of the fourth volume of the Samyutta-Nikaya, ‘The Connected Discourses of the Buddha’. The Samyutta-Nikaya is traditionally seen as the third set (nikaya) in the Sutta-Pitaka, after the Digha-Nikaya and the Majjhima-Nikaya. The Sutta-Pitaka is the ‘basket’ of discourses (sutta’s) attributed to the historical Buddha and his main...

Samyutta-Nikaya – The Connected Discourses of the Buddha – Part 5
Maha-Vagga, 'The Great Volume'

This book contains the integral Dutch translation of the fifth volume of the Samyutta-Nikaya, ‘The Connected Discourses of the Buddha’. The Samyutta-Nikaya is traditionally seen as the third set (nikaya) in the Sutta-Pitaka, after the Digha-Nikaya and the Majjhima-Nikaya. The Sutta-Pitaka is the ‘basket’ of discourses  (sutta’s) attributed to the historical Buddha and his main...

Anguttara-Nikaya – The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha – Part 1
The Book of the Ones, the Twos and the Threes (Ekaka-Nipata, Duka-Nipata, Tika-Nipata)

This book contains the integral Dutch translation of the first volume of the Anguttara-Nikaya, ‘The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha’. De Anguttara-Nikaya is traditionally seen as the fourth set (nikaya) in the Sutta-Pitaka, after the Digha-Nikaya, the Majjhima-Nikaya and the Samyutta-Nikaya. The Sutta-Pitaka is the ‘basket’ of discourses  (sutta’s) attributed to the historical Buddha and...

Anguttara Nikaya – The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha – Part 2
The Book of the Fours (Catukka-Nipata)

This book contains the integral Dutch translation of the second volume of the Anguttara-Nikaya, ‘The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha’. The Anguttara-Nikaya is traditionally seen as the fourth set (nikaya) in the Sutta-Pitaka, after the Digha-Nikaya, the Majjhima-Nikaya and the Samyutta-Nikaya. The Sutta-Pitaka is the ‘basket’ of discourses  (sutta’s) attributed to the historical Buddha and...

Anguttara-Nikaya – The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha – Part 3
The Books of the Fives and Sixs (Pancaka-Nipata, Chakka-Nipata)

This book contains the integral Dutch translation of the third volume of the Anguttara-Nikaya, ‘The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha’. The Anguttara-Nikaya is traditionally seen as the fourth set (nikaya) in the Sutta-Pitaka, after the Digha-Nikaya, the Majjhima-Nikaya and the Samyutta-Nikaya. The Sutta-Pitaka is the ‘basket’ of discourses  (sutta’s) attributed to the historical Buddha and...

Anguttara-Nikaya – The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha – Part 4
The Books of the Sevenths, the Eights and the Ninths (Sattaka-Nipata, Atthaka-Nipata, Navaka-Nipata)

This book contains the integral Dutch translation of the fourth volume of the Anguttara-Nikaya, ‘The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha’. The Anguttara-Nikaya is traditionally seen as the fourth set (nikaya) in the Sutta-Pitaka, after the Digha-Nikaya, the Majjhima-Nikaya and the Samyutta-Nikaya. The Sutta-Pitaka is the ‘basket’ of discourses  (sutta’s) attributed to the historical Buddha and...

Khuddaka-Nikaya – The Collection of Short Discourses of the Buddha – Complete
the complete series

This series contains all three volumes of the Khuddaka-Nikaya (the Collection of Short Discourses of the Buddha) that have been published by Bodhi Publishers. The Khuddaka-Nikaya is traditionally seen as – after the Digha, the Majjhima, the Samyutta and the Anguttara-Nikaya – the last of the five collections (nikayas) of the Sutta-Pitaka: the ‘basket’ (pitaka)...

Khuddaka-Nikaya – The Collection of Short Discourses of the Buddha – Part 1
Sutta-Nipata and Dhammapada

This book contains the Dutch standard translation of two works that are part of the Khuddaka-Nikaya, ‘The Collection of Short Discourses of the Buddha’. The Khuddaka-Nikaya is traditionally seen as – after the Digha, the Majjhima, the Samyutta and the Anguttara-Nikaya – the last of the five collections (nikayas) of the Sutta-Pitaka: the ‘basket’ (pitaka)...

Khuddaka-Nikaya – The Collection of Short Discourses of the Buddha – Part 2
Khuddaka-Patha, Udana, Itivuttaka and Cariyapitaka

This book contains the Dutch standard translation of four works that are part of the Khuddaka-Nikaya, ‘The Collection of Short Discourses of the Buddha’. The Khuddaka-Nikaya is traditionally seen as – after the Digha, the Majjhima, the Samyutta and the Anguttara-Nikaya – the last of the five collections (nikayas) of the Sutta-Pitaka: the ‘basket’ (pitaka)...

Khuddaka-Nikaya – The Collection of Short Discourses of the Buddha – Part 3
Therigatha, Theragatha - Verses of Monks and Nuns

This book contains the Dutch standard translation of two works that are part of the Khuddaka-Nikaya, ‘The Collection of Short Discourses of the Buddha’. The Khuddaka-Nikaya is traditionally seen as – after the Digha, the Majjhima, the Samyutta and the Anguttara-Nikaya – the last of the five collections (nikayas) of the Sutta-Pitaka: the ‘basket’ (pitaka)...

Milinda’s Questions
A Conversation between a Greek King and a Buddhist Monk

OUT OF PRINT A conversation between a Greek king and a Buddhist monk The Milindapanho, a text handed down in Pali, is one of the classic works of Buddhist literature. It is a collection of conversations between the Greek-Indian king Milinda (Pali for Greek Menander) and a Buddhist monk. The scripture is dated before the...