Gaidhani, Vaishali Sanjay See all items with this value

2025

Doctor of Philosophy in Religious Studies

Shakya, Miroj

Iwamura, Jane

Chu, William

This dissertation examines the concept of khanti, as it is articulated in the Pāli Nikāyas and other early Buddhist texts. The Mahāparinibbāna sutta mentions the brahmin Doṇa reminding the kings, “Amhākaṃ Buddho Khanti-vādi.” Meaning, “Our Buddha is a Professor of Patience.” The third century Asokan inscription at Ahraura mentions this statement and that the Buddha’s relics are laid on a platform structure and not inside a Stūpa. Khanti, seems to be a unique characteristic, as a foundational platform of the Buddha’s teaching.

There is no single word meaning of khanti in English. The Pāli-English Dictionary (PED) states three meanings of khanti; namely - patience, forbearance, and endurance. The quality of khanti in the life of a human being is given prime importance in Buddhist tradition, both the Theravāda (Pāli - khanti) and Mahāyāna (Sanskrit - kṣānti), schools of Buddhism. The Buddha praises the quality of “patience” as the ‘highest austerity’ in the Nikāya. The notion of khanti is of prime importance in the practice of both, the perfection of the Bodhisatta, and the attainment of Buddhahood, insomuch that Khantī is one of the three pāramī considered fundamentally inherent in the pursuit of other perfections.

Drawing material from the corpus of the Sutta and Jātaka preserved essentially in the Pāli texts, the methodology adopted in this dissertation works by documenting (1) the philological and etymological aspect of khanti, (2) the notion of khanti as a pārami in the fulfilment of Bodhisatta’s perfection, and (3) the concept of khanti as a teaching relevant for the attainment of the noble eightfold path to Nibbāna.

Certain concepts like generosity (dāna), precepts (sīla), wisdom (paññā), and others are frequently examined by various scholars. Then the question arises, why is the concept of khanti underplayed. Even if khanti is unknown and does not feature prominently in scholarly writings, khanti is indeed embedded in these doctrinal concepts.

By providing a comprehensive view of khanti within the Pāli Buddhist tradition, the study illuminates the role of patience, forbearance and endurance within the Buddhist path.

Religion See all items with this value

Philosophy of Religion See all items with this value

Asian studies See all items with this value

Buddhism See all items with this value

Forbearance See all items with this value

Khanti See all items with this value

Nibbana See all items with this value

Patience See all items with this value

Theravada See all items with this value

University of the West

9798270296285