Buddhist Homiletics on Grief

The study first introduces a hitherto completely unstudied anonymous work, for which I reconstruct the title *Saddharmaparikatha. This substantial text is a Buddhist homiletician's guidebook with sample sermons in Sanskrit on a rich variety of topics. I argue that it dates from the 5th century and that it was possibly authored in a Sammatiya enviromnent. I first discuss the unique manuscript transmitting the text, the structure and contents of the work, what information it can provide for the tradition of preaching and its importance for Buddhist studies. In the second half, I provide a sample chapter 'On Grief' with an annotated translation.

Automated summary

This study introduces a previously unstudied anonymous work titled *Saddharmaparikatha, which is believed to be a Buddhist homiletician's guidebook with sample sermons in Sanskrit on various topics. The researcher argues that it dates back to the 5th century and may have been authored in a Sammatiya enviromnent. The study also discusses the unique manuscript transmitting the text, its structure and contents, and its importance for the tradition of preaching and Buddhist studies.