The Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) and the Dharma-Gaia Foundation (FDG) are pleased to announce the second edition of the course “Introduction to Pali Language and Literature”. It is designed for those who wish to explore and deepen this classic language, essential for the study of ancient Buddhist texts. This course has been developed thanks to the FDG initiative, which has played a key role in its creation and promotion.
The course will be taught by Professor Aleix Ruiz Falqués, PhD in Asian Studies from the University of Cambridge and internationally renowned expert in the field. The UAB stands out as one of the best universities in Spain in international rankings. All course sessions will be recorded, allowing students to access them at any time for the duration of the course, thus ensuring a flexible and accessible learning experience.
Course content:
In this course, we will explore the Pali language, used in early Buddhist texts, including the renowned discourses of the Buddha and ancient treatises on Buddhist ethics and meditation. The teaching of the course, carried out through synchronous online classes, combines the study of grammar and the reading of translations. The Pali Canon represents one of the most comprehensive sources of the Buddha's teachings. Through this course, we will also immerse ourselves in original Buddhist texts by learning the Pali language. The classes will include exercises that will address fundamental aspects of Buddhism.
Language and scope:
It is taught in Spanish and is aimed at students and the general public who are highly interested in the subject.
Duration:
The course will last 25 teaching hours, equivalent to 4 ECTS credits. There will be 2 hours of class per week through the virtual campus spread over two days.
Dates and times:
The course will be held from September 29 to December 22, 2025, on Mondays and Wednesdays from 17:00 to 18:00 (Spanish time), coinciding with the morning in Latin America, making it easier for students from this region to participate.
Location and format: virtual campus
The course format is virtual and consists of two videoconference sessions per week, each lasting one hour. To offer the greatest possible flexibility, classes will be available on a deferred basis, allowing participants to access the content at a time that is most convenient for them.
Enrollment:
The course offers a maximum limited number of 30 places, to be filled in strict order of enrollment.
The tuition fee is 120€.
Admission requirement:
The only requirement for admission to the course is to have passed the secondary education level.
Certifications
A certificate of achievement will be awarded to participants who successfully complete the course. The cost of the certificate of achievement not is included in the price of tuition.
Academic direction:
Gustavo Pita Céspedes
Daniel Millet Gil
About the instructor:
Aleix Ruiz Falqués holds a doctorate in South Asian Studies from the University of Cambridge and has an outstanding academic career in the field of Pali language and literature. His training includes Sanskrit studies at the University of Pune and a doctorate specialized in the Pali grammatical tradition of Burma, giving him a unique and rich perspective in this field. His pedagogical approach combines academic rigor with a deep appreciation for the Buddhist tradition, facilitating the understanding of Pali texts in their historical, literary and philosophical context.
Among his most outstanding works is the Pali translation into Spanish of the anthology In the words of the Buddha (Kairos, 2019), as well as the translation The last days of the Buddha [Mahāparinibbānasutta], with the commentary of Buddhaghosa (Madrid: Trotta, 2022). Your translation of Questions to King Milinda (Kairos Publishing House). In addition, he has published numerous articles specialized in Pali studies in international academic journals. His work also includes the editing and critical translation of classical texts, and studies on Pali Burmese literature and its exegetical traditions.
Thanks to his deep knowledge of the Pali language and his experience as a translator and academic, Aleix is able to transmit the philosophical, literary and cultural nuances of the original texts. Their solid training and prolific intellectual output guarantee course participants a rigorous, enriching and inspiring learning experience.
Importance of the Pali Canon
The Buddhist canon in the Pali language, known as Tipitaka, is one of the most comprehensive sources of the Buddha's teachings. In this large collection we find discourses and dialogues by the Buddha, preserved since ancient times in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asian countries such as Burma or Thailand. In these countries, Theravāda Buddhism continues to be studied and practiced, the only school of ancient Buddhism that preserves the Buddha's teachings in a language, Pali, which was quite possibly the language of the Buddha or, in any case, a dialect very close to the dialect or dialects spoken by the historical Buddha in northeastern India, around the 5th century BC.
Objectives of the course
In this course we will approach primitive Buddhist texts through learning the Pali language, with basic grammar exercises and practices that will be oriented, in a very direct way, to the possibility of reading prose and canonical verse. The course consists of language classes with exercises that deal with basic topics of Buddhism. This means that through the words, concepts and formulas that we will analyze, we will know first-hand the fundamental ideas of ancient or primitive Buddhism, that is, the Buddhism of the first schools, between the 5th and 3rd centuries BC.
The objective of the course is to understand how prayer works in the Pali language and how to use reference works, both on paper and online, whether grammatical, electronic texts or dictionaries. This course is ideal for all those who have a genuine interest in the original sources of Buddhism, to learn what the oldest texts of this great cultural tradition tell us. Whether they are meditators who want to delve into the texts, or people with philosophical, historical or literary inclinations, this course will give them direct access to the word of Gotama Buddha.
Course contents
- Introduction to the Pali language
- Pali terminology
- Pali grammar
- Overview of Pali literature
- Reading texts
Responsible Center:
Faculty of Translation and Interpretation of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB)
How to enroll?
The course is limited to 30 places, so we recommend that you register as soon as possible to secure your place.
To register or request more information, you can visit the Official website of the UAB course
Gustavo Pita Céspedes
Telephone: 34 93 586 8901
You can also contact the Dharma-Gaia Foundation by writing to the email: info@fundaciondharmagaia.com
Additional Information
- UAB specialization course
- Study Code: 4928/2
- 2nd edition
- Credits: 4 ECTS
- Modality: Online
- Orientation: Professional
- Teaching language: Spanish
- Location: Online. Moodle space online. FTI, Plaza del Coneixement, UAB Campus, 08193 Bellaterra.
Scholarships and grants
To explore the available scholarship and grant options, we recommend that you visit the UAB Scholarships, Grants and Calls page. The Dharma-Gaia Foundation could also offer scholarships to support students interested in this course who require it.
We invite all interested parties to enroll in this course and take advantage of this exceptional opportunity to enrich their knowledge and understanding of Pali. Whether you're a student of Asian studies, a practitioner of Buddhism, or simply someone with a deep interest in ancient languages and cultures, this course will offer you a unique and valuable educational experience.
About the organizing institutions
The course is organized by the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), one of the most prestigious universities in Europe, in collaboration with the Dharma-Gaia Foundation (FDG), dedicated to the dissemination of Buddhism and the preservation of its cultural heritage.
For more information about the UAB, visit its official website: Www.uab.es.
Don't miss this opportunity to learn from an expert and to immerse yourself in the fascinating world of Pali, the language of early Buddhism! Sign up now and start your journey of discovery and learning.
Useful links:
Faculty of Translation and Interpretation of the Autonomous University of Barcelona
Articles published on Buddhistdoor in Spanish
”The situation of Buddhist studies in Spain: educational programs” by Juan Arnau Navarro, Montse Castellà Olivé, Francisco Díez de Velasco, Ricardo Guerrero Diáñez, Basili Llorca Martínez, Daniel Millet Gil, Agustín Pániker Vilaplana, Aleix Ruiz Falqués, Jaume Vallverdú Vallverdú, Abraham Vélez de Cea.
”Presentation of the book In the words of the Buddha. An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon, by Bhikkhu BodhI” by Caridad Martin Nieto.
Other related articles published in Buddhistdoor in Spanish
”The expansion of Buddhist studies through the study of Pali: an interview with Aleix Ruiz Falqués” by Dipen Barua and Daniel Millet.
“The Dunhuang Diamond” by Aleix Ruiz-Falqués
”Of free nuns and unfaithful translators” by Aleix Ruiz-Falqués
”Saraṇa Vihāra: a refuge in the Montseny Massif” by Aleix Ruiz-Falqués
Key Publications in Spanish-Speaking Buddhist Studies
Buddhist Studies in Latin America and Spain (Volume I), edited by Daniel Millet Gil and Jaume Vallverdú. This first volume brings together a series of essays that explore the relationship between Buddhism and Spanish-American culture, addressing issues such as the reception of Buddhism in Latin America and Spain, the translations of Buddhist texts into Spanish and the impact of Buddhism on contemporary societies.
Downloadable at:
https://llibres.urv.cat/index.php/purv/catalog/view/563/583/1270
Buddhist Studies in Latin America and Spain (Volume II), edited by Daniel Millet Gil and Jaume Vallverdú. The second volume expands the focus of the first, including contributions that analyze Buddhism from interdisciplinary and regional perspectives, with an emphasis on its interaction with local cultural traditions and its impact on the academic environment.
Downloadable at:
https://llibres.urv.cat/index.php/purv/catalog/view/595/610/1301
