Tripitaka (Pali Canon)
AI-drafted · awaiting admin review
The "three baskets" of the Buddha's teaching: monastic rules, discourses and philosophy. The Pali version is the canon of Theravada Buddhism.
| Tradition | Buddhist |
|---|---|
| Type | Scripture |
| Language | Pali |
| Period | Teachings of the Buddha (c. 5th century BCE) passed down orally; by tradition written down in Sri Lanka in the 1st century BCE |
| Composed or compiled by | The words of the Buddha and his disciples, as recited at early Buddhist councils |
What it contains
- Vinaya Pitaka: rules for monks and nuns.
- Sutta Pitaka: the Buddha's discourses, in five collections (nikayas).
- Abhidhamma Pitaka: systematic analysis of mind and matter.
- Includes the Dhammapada and the Jataka tales of the Buddha's previous lives.
Significance
Buddhist tradition holds that the first council at Rajagriha (Rajgir) recited the teachings soon after the Buddha's passing. The Tripitaka was then preserved by monks across Asia.