Pāli Canon

Pāli Canon

Pāli Canon Resources
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The Pāli Canon is the standard collection of scriptures in the Theravada Buddhist tradition, as preserved in the Pāli language. It is the most complete extant early Buddhist canon and consists of three "baskets" or pitakas (Vinaya Pitaka, Sutta Pitaka, and Abhidhamma Pitaka). The Pāli Canon lays out the teachings of Gautama Buddha and forms the doctrinal foundation of Theravada Buddhism.

Composition and Structure

The Pāli Canon is divided into three main categories, each called a Pitaka.

Vinaya Pitaka

The Vinaya Pitaka contains the rules of conduct for the Bhikkhu (monks) and Bhikkhuni (nuns). It includes not only the rules themselves but also the stories behind the origins of these rules.

Sutta Pitaka

The Sutta Pitaka is a collection of discourses attributed to the Buddha and his close disciples. It is divided into five collections (Nikayas), which include long discourses (Digha Nikaya), middle-length discourses (Majjhima Nikaya), connected discourses (Samyutta Nikaya), numerical discourses (Anguttara Nikaya), and minor discourses (Khuddaka Nikaya).

Abhidhamma Pitaka

The Abhidhamma Pitaka offers a detailed philosophical and psychological analysis of the teachings found in the Sutta Pitaka. It is considered the higher teaching and is more scholastic in its approach.

Historical Development

The Pāli Canon was orally transmitted for several centuries before being written down in the 1st century BCE in Sri Lanka. The decision to write down the texts was primarily driven by the fear of loss of the teachings due to ongoing wars and famine.

Significance

The Pāli Canon is regarded as the closest available record of the original teachings of the Buddha. It serves as the scriptural foundation for Theravada Buddhism and provides the basis for various practices, philosophical interpretations, and meditative techniques.

Translation and Study

The texts have been translated into numerous languages, with English translations becoming widely available in the 19th and 20th centuries. The study of the Pāli Canon has contributed significantly to the understanding of early Buddhism and its development into various schools and traditions.

See Also

• Buddhist texts
• Early Buddhist schools
• Tipitaka