Buddhist Institute

The Buddhist Institute is the oldest centre of research and learning in Cambodia, re-established in 1992 with the support of the Japan Sotoshu Relief Committee (JSRC) and the German Heinrich Boell Foundation (HBF). Today, the Institute seeks to resume and maintain its former status as a national centre for learning, research, documentation and dissemination of knowledge, as well as a forum for national, regional and international dialogue in the Buddhism and Cambodian culture field.

The institution has worked on the following over the years:

• Kambuja Soriya: This magazine features articles on culture, tradition, and religion, together with news from the Institute.
• The Tripitaka Scripture: The Tripitaka Commission translates Buddhist scripture from Pali into Khmer and has published commentaries and other titles relating to Buddhist scripture.
• Khmer Legends have been collected and published by Mores and Customs Commission, consisting of 9 volumes of tales. 
• The Khmer dictionary is a major achievement and a reference source for Khmer literature researchers across the whole country. 

Currently, many documents are being collected to rebuild the Buddhist Institute’s collection, for the benefit of local researchers. Research on key Khmer cultural issues, both historical, such as folk tales, or colonisation and contemporary subjects (Buddhism in the 21st century, or HIV/AIDS, for example) is ongoing.