History

Pariyatti distributes, publishes, sells, and donates books from one of the world's most substantial collections of the complete Buddhist teachings.

Since 1986 Pariyatti has been filling the need for ready access to written and recorded materials from the Theravada tradition. Previously, most of what was available was printed in Asia and hard to find in the West. We specialize in materials about Vipassana meditation, an ancient practice maintained from the Buddha's time, as taught by Sayagyi U Ba Khin and S.N. Goenka.

In the mid-90s the wheel began turning to bring more of these teachings to Buddhists as well as non-Buddhists in the West. Pariyatti began free distribution of the 140-volume Tipitaka (the Pali Canon) in Devanagari script to libraries and temples, and the CD version to individuals.

This web site is an important online resource benefitting people all over the world, offering more than 1,000 print, audio and video titles. Pariyatti has republished texts from the Buddhist Publication Society of Sir Lanka and also publishes new books; many are now available at mainstream bookstores in North America. We represent the venerable Pali Text Society in the Americas, and distribute the award-winning films, "Doing Time, Doing Vipassana" and "Changing From Inside", documentaries on the practice of Vipassana inside correctional facilitities.

A nonprofit educational organization, Pariyatti's efforts are sustained by contributions from individuals. If you'd like to help support these endeavors, please do so by sending a check, purchasing titles, or telling others about our services and what we have to share; visit the donations page for more information or to offer your tax-deductible financial gift online now.

Pariyatti is based in rural southwest Washington within sight of two volcanoes (Mt. Rainier and Mt. St. Helens) and two miles from the Northwest Vipassana Center, a meditation retreat facility. If you are in the neighborhood, stop by, browse the rare collection of titles gathered in one place, and have a cup of tea.