# Peter Masefield (Translator of several important Pali texts) 1943–2020

**URL:** <https://classicaltheravada.org/t/peter-masefield-translator-of-several-important-pali-texts-1943-2020/705>\
**Category:** Uncategorized\
**Created:** [March 17, 2023, 11:34am UTC](https://classicaltheravada.org/t/peter-masefield-translator-of-several-important-pali-texts-1943-2020/705 "2023-03-17T11:34:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![RobertK](https://classicaltheravada.org/user_avatar/classicaltheravada.org/robertk/32/1498_2.png) [@RobertK](https://classicaltheravada.org/u/RobertK)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2023, 11:34am UTC](https://classicaltheravada.org/t/peter-masefield-translator-of-several-important-pali-texts-1943-2020/705/1 "2023-03-17T11:34:32Z")

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![image](https://classicaltheravada.org/uploads/default/original/1X/f7bc2743d4bfc51bf3f324d4ef6d8bf33af0bbe9.png)

I recently learned that the Pali scholar Peter Masefield passed away in Bangkok on September 7, 2020.  
His translations for the PTS include  
The Itivuttaka Commentary by Dhammapāla (2008 -2009).  
The Udana and its Commentary  
The Vimanavathhu and its Commentary

He was working on a translation of the _Cariyāpiṭaka_ , and its commentary at the time of his death.

I knew Peter from my time in Sydney (circa 1994) where I (along with 2 or three others) used to take Pali lessons which he kindly offered for free every Sunday at a Buddhist Library.  
His translations are top -notch and IMO almost as good in some aspects, as those of the great Pali scholar of our era, Bhikkhu Bodhi. Ven. Bodhi is of course far more prolific.

There is an excellent interview with him here:

> **[Found in Translation](https://tricycle.org/magazine/found-translation/)**
>
> How do you take an ancient text written in a dead language and reveal its wisdom to the English-speaking world? Pali Scholar Dr. Peter Masefield discusses the toil and exhilaration of translating the Buddha's words with Stephen A. Evans.

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**Author:** ![RobertK](https://classicaltheravada.org/user_avatar/classicaltheravada.org/robertk/32/1498_2.png) [@RobertK](https://classicaltheravada.org/u/RobertK)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 3:15am UTC](https://classicaltheravada.org/t/peter-masefield-translator-of-several-important-pali-texts-1943-2020/705/2 "2024-09-11T03:15:15Z")

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> [@RobertK](#):
>
> He was working on a translation of the _Cariyāpiṭaka_ , and its commentary at the time of his death.

This was the free book from PTS for subscribers this year and what a huge volume it is- 654 pages in small font. I am working through it slowly.

 ![pp](https://classicaltheravada.org/uploads/default/original/2X/f/fd072a5d55350bab797a56af3b757c837c76d093.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![Daniel](https://classicaltheravada.org/user_avatar/classicaltheravada.org/daniel/32/1896_2.png) [@Daniel](https://classicaltheravada.org/u/Daniel)\
**Post date:** [June 4, 2026, 1:05pm UTC](https://classicaltheravada.org/t/peter-masefield-translator-of-several-important-pali-texts-1943-2020/705/3 "2026-06-04T13:05:29Z")

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Thank you for sharing this I was just looking for an English translation of Udana Commentary, and was reading some of his translation and some articles and reviews of them - and as a result came across this post and thanks to you I learn who this translator I was reading - wow someone from my city! More and more even if I go looking afar to search things, I find threads to where I was born - maybe did something very good in a past life to be born so close to people like this and dhamma - I am looking forward to reading the commentary - grateful to those who came before and put in time and attention to give us dhamma.

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**Author:** ![RobertK](https://classicaltheravada.org/user_avatar/classicaltheravada.org/robertk/32/1498_2.png) [@RobertK](https://classicaltheravada.org/u/RobertK)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2026, 2:02pm UTC](https://classicaltheravada.org/t/peter-masefield-translator-of-several-important-pali-texts-1943-2020/705/4 "2026-06-05T14:02:12Z")

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> [@RobertK](#):
>
> [Found in Translation - Tricycle: The Buddhist Review](https://tricycle.org/magazine/found-translation/)

Thanks for this Daniel!  
Here is a eulogy by Dr Wynne  
[Peter Masefield](https://jocbs.org/index.php/jocbs/article/viewFile/243/320)  
[243-972-1-PB.pdf](https://classicaltheravada.org/uploads/short-url/dtkCK7pJh6Eup5FONpna4xoGpjk.pdf) (286.4 KB)