The Tripitaka of Theravada Buddhism: A Simplified Summary

August 6, 2021August 6, 2021MyInfo Basket.com 2 CommentsThe Tripitaka of Theravada Buddhism: A Simplified Summary, tipitaka, Tripitaka book, Tripitaka Buddhism description, Tripitaka in English, what is contained in the tripitaka?

Theravada Buddhism is the school of Buddhism that takes its scriptural inspiration from the Pali Canon, or Tripitaka, acknowledged as the oldest record of the Buddha’s teachings.

For more info about Theravada Buddhism, read: Theravada Buddhism 101: The Brief History, Core Teachings, Fundamental Beliefs, Practices, and Related Issues

So what is ‘Tripitaka’? What is this sacred text all about?

The ‘Tripitaka’ of Buddhism is the earliest collection of Buddhist teachings and the only text acknowledged as canonical by Theravada Buddhism.

But make no mistake about it—the schools of the Mahayana (‘Greater Vehicle’) branch also revere it, yet they regard as scripture additional writings that are not accepted by Theravada.

For more info about Mahayana Buddhism, read: Mahayana Buddhism 101: The Brief History, Core Teachings, Fundamental Beliefs, Practices, and Related Issues

Tripitaka really means “three baskets,” from the manner by which it was originally recorded: the texts were (1) written on long, narrow leaves, which were (2) sewn at the edges, then (3) assembled into bunches and stored in baskets.

This collection is also called the ‘Pali Canon,’ after the language in which it was first written. Tripitaka is a massive collection of writings, comprising up to 50 volumes.

The Tripitaka contents were communicated orally, then written down in the third century B.C.

According to Buddhist tradition, the contents of the Tripitaka were determined at the First Buddhist Council, shortly after the death of Buddha.

It is said that around 500 of Buddha’s disciples assembled, and upon the instruction of Mahakashypa (Buddha’s successor), Buddha’s teachings were recited in full.

They were then confirmed by others and organized into the Tripitaka.

The following are the three baskets:

Name of Basket	English name	Reciter	Description
‘Vinaya Pitaka’ (the first basket)	Discipline Basket	Upali (a monk)	the earliest and smallest basket; provides for the rules and regulations for the monastic community (the ‘sangha’); comprises 227 rules for monks, regulations for nuns, and rules for the interaction between the sangha and the laity.
‘Sutra Pitaka’ (the second basket)	Discourse Basket	Ananda (Buddha’s cousin and closest companion)	the largest basket; contains Buddha’s teachings on doctrine and behavior; focuses on meditation techniques; encompasses Buddha’s doctrinal sermons and ethical discourses
‘Abhidharma Pitaka’ (third basket)	Higher Knowledge or Special Teachings Basket	Mahakashyapa (the Buddha’s successor)	a collection of miscellaneous writings; includes songs, poetry, and stories of Buddha; an arrangement of doctrinal materials from the sutras; about Buddhist philosophy and psychology; includes the ‘Dhammapada,’ a Buddhist text consisting of the Buddha’s sayings and discussions of Buddhist doctrine based on the Buddha’s daily life.