Pali Text Society's members: past and present

[form]

Just curious, are they all Buddhist?

[Kusala]

Just curious, are they all Buddhist?

The founder of the Pali Text Society, Dr. Rhys Davids...


“One of the first scholars to begin the work of translating the Pali Literature into English, was the son of a well-known clergyman. His object in undertaking the work was to prove the superiority of Christianity over Buddhism. He failed in this task but he achieved a greater victory than he expected. He became a Buddhist. We must never forget the happy chance which prompted him to undertake this work and thereby make the precious Dhamma available to thousands in the West. The name of this great scholar was Dr. Rhys Davids.”

Ven. A. Mahinda, “Blue Print of Happiness”

[form]

"Dr. Richard Gombrich has spent much of his life studying Buddhism, but he does not call himself a Buddhist."

Based on the above, what is the reason?

[Cause_and_Effect]

"Dr. Richard Gombrich has spent much of his life studying Buddhism, but he does not call himself a Buddhist."

Based on the above, what is the reason?

'Does not call himself a Buddhist' is not the same as not adhering to the Dhamma. Most likely to maintain academic integrity he shuns the designation, and possibly he also approaches it mainly from a scholastic point of view without much practice.
Another well known Buddhist scholar and lecturer Peter Harvey, most certainly is a 'Dhamma practitioner'.

[Sam Vara]

"Dr. Richard Gombrich has spent much of his life studying Buddhism, but he does not call himself a Buddhist."

Based on the above, what is the reason?

'Does not call himself a Buddhist' is not the same as not adhering to the Dhamma. Most likely to maintain academic integrity he shuns the designation, and possibly he also approaches it mainly from a scholastic point of view without much practice.
Another well known Buddhist scholar and lecturer Peter Harvey, most certainly is a 'Dhamma practitioner'.

Yes, Peter Harvey has now retired from his academic post, but teaches meditation for the Samatha Trust. He has been known to post here on DW.

[form]

I find many of them to be very knowledgeable. By the way, is there any information where they comment on how did the nikaya was edited to the current format?