General Knowledge - Indian History - Discussion

The sacred book of Buddhism is called the Tripitaka (called Tipitaka in Pali). It is also called the Pali Canon, after the language in which it was first written.

It is written in an ancient Indian language called Pali which is very close to the language that the Buddha himself spoke. The Tripitaka is a very large book. The English translation of it takes up nearly forty volumes. Buddhism is based on Buddha's teachings. At first these were passed down by word of mouth and later were complied into two sets of scripture. One set by Council of Monks of the Theravada school (the Tripitaka) the other by the Mahayana school (the Sutras). Both were similar.

Both Theravada and Mahayana Buddhists generally accept the Tripitaka (called Tipitaka in Pali) as the Buddhist sacred writings.

The Tripitakas were composed between about 500 BCE to about the start of the common era, likely written down for the first time in the 1st century BCE.

Each Buddhist sub-tradition had its own Tripitaka for its monasteries, written by its sangha, each set consisting of 32 books, in three parts or baskets of teachings: the basket of expected discipline from monks, a basket of discourse, and a basket of special doctrine.

The structure, the code of conduct and moral virtues in the Vinaya basket particularly, have similarities to some of the surviving Dharmasutra texts of Hinduism. Much of the surviving Tripitaka literature is in Pali, some in Sanskrit, as well as other local Asian languages.

Tripitaka is the three main categories of texts that make up the Buddhist canon.
Sutras
Main articles: Mahayana sutras and Sutta Pitaka

These are mainly teachings and sermons of Buddha originally transcribed in Sanskrit or Pali. It may contain description of Buddha and parables which may lead to enlightenment to the reader.
Abhidharma
Main article: Abhidharma

Philosophical and psychological discourse and interpretation of Buddhist doctrine.
Vinaya
Main article: Vinaya

Rules and regulation of monastic life that range from dress code and dietary rules to prohibition in personal conduct.

Tripitaka is a Sanskrit word meaning Three Baskets. The sacred book of Buddhism is called the Tripitaka (called Tipitaka in Pali).

Tripiá¹­aka or Tipiá¹­aka is the traditional term for the Buddhist scriptures. The version canonical to Theravada Buddhism is generally referred to in English as the Pali Canon. Mahayana Buddhism also holds the Tripiá¹­aka to be authoritative but, unlike Theravadins, it also includes in its canon various derivative literature and commentaries that were composed much later.

The Tripiá¹­aka was composed between about 550 BCE.

The Tripitaka is a collection of Buddhist texts, or canon, that includes scripture, history, commentary, doxography, and disciplinary manuals. The word Tripitaka means "Three Baskets" in Sanskrit, and refers to its three traditional divisions:

Vinaya Pitaka:
Contains rules and regulations for the daily lives of bhikkhus and bhikkhunis in the Bauddha Sangha.

Sutta Pitaka:
Contains the teachings or sermons of Gautama Buddha.

Abhidhamma Pitaka:
Contains an explanation of Buddhist doctrine.

Tripitaka is a Sanskrit word meaning Three Baskets. It is the traditional term used by Buddhist traditions to describe their various canons of scriptures.

The expression Three Baskets originally referred to three receptacles containing the scrolls on which the Buddhist scriptures were originally preserved.

Hence, the Tripitaka traditionally contains three "baskets" of teachings: a Sutra Pitaka, a Vinaya Pitaka and an Abhidharma Pitaka.

The meaning of the word Tripitakas can be taken as three times (in marathi languange word for three times is 'Tippat').

I have heard that in those days mahabharata was considered as the largest book; hence as answer to that buddhist people created a book of Budha's teachings three times bigger than Mahabharata, hence this book is called as Tripitakas (as 'three times' in length as that of Mahabharata. ).

Tripitaka consist the teaching of budha. It has three parts:1 vinay pitaka which consist the rule governing budhist sangha and monk it cover the rule of behavior in our daily life. Sutra pitaka conist the religious sermon and budhist teaching and avidharma pitak consist budhist philosphy and main pearching of budha. Tripitaka written in Pali language.

Tripitaka' texts are considered as the holy book of Buddhism.
The Three Pitakas are:
(1) Vinaya Pitaka- conduct of the order
(2) Sutta Pitaka- largest book on Buddha's sermons
(3) Abhidhamma Pitaka- on metaphysics.

These books are believed to be compiled by various Buddhist Councils held.

The Tripitaka, meaning "Three Baskets," is the sacred text of Buddhism, consisting of the Vinaya Pitaka (monastic rules), Sutta Pitaka (Buddha's teachings), and Abhidhamma Pitaka (doctrinal analysis). This collection forms the foundation of Buddhist practice and philosophy.