The Center for the Preservation of Ancient Manuscripts, or known as CPAM, has undertaken the task to collect, digitize, and preserve palm leaf manuscripts that are scattered throughout Thailand and other countries with the aim of creating a digital Tipiṭaka database to preserve these precious teachings of the Lord Buddha inscribed on palm leaves and to make them accessible for academics worldwide.
Palm leaves are sacred even when they are still on the tress because they are to be used for the creation of Tipiṭaka. Before climbing, a cutter man must perform ritual asking for permission to show respect to Dhamma, which is teachings of the Lord Buddha, and for him to be blessed for a safely climbing.
This documentary produced by Manuscript Preservation and Study Center (MPSC), Thailand
