An Analysis of the Role of Commentaries in Explaining the Buddha’s Words in the Tipiṭaka

Abstract

This research article aims to (1) examine and analyze the roles and functions of the commentaries (Atthakathā) in explaining the Buddha’s teachings in the Tipiṭaka, particularly in terms of linguistic clarification, contextual explanation, and doctrinal interpretation according to the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, and (2) synthesize an approach and model for the systematic use of the commentaries to enhance the understanding of the Buddha’s teachings. This study employs a qualitative research design based primarily on documentary analysis of the Tipiṭaka, the Pāli commentaries, and relevant academic literature in the field of Theravāda Buddhist studies. The data consist of canonical texts and scholarly sources related to the interpretation of the Buddha’s teachings within the Theravāda tradition. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive analysis and content synthesis.

The research findings reveal that:

1. The commentaries play a crucial role in explaining the Buddha’s teachings in the Tipiṭaka by clarifying Pāli terminology, elucidating linguistic structures, and providing the contextual background of the discourses. These functions contribute to a clearer and more accurate understanding of the teachings, reduce interpretative ambiguity, and ensure consistency with the doctrinal intentions of the Theravāda tradition.
2. The use of the commentaries can be synthesized into a systematic model for understanding the Buddha’s teachings within the Theravāda framework. This model consists of linguistic clarification, contextual elaboration, doctrinal integration, and a Theravāda-oriented interpretative framework that emphasizes practical application and liberation from suffering. This synthesized model represents new knowledge that enhances the systematic and methodologically grounded study of the Tipiṭaka in contemporary academic contexts.