Tipitaka

Introduction

Tipitaka is the collection of the teachings of the Buddha over 45 years in the Pali language. The Tipitaka was compiled and arranged in its present form by Arahants who had immediate contact with the Master Himself. The Buddha has passed away, but the sublime Dhamma which He unreservedly bequeathed to humanity still exists in its pristine purity. Although the Master has left no written records of His Teachings, His distinguished disciples preserved them by committing to memory and transmitting them orally from generation to generation.

The Tipitaka consists of:

• Sutta: conventional teaching

• Vinaya: disciplinary code

• Abhidhamma: moral psychology

Sutta Pitaka

The Sutta Pitaka consists chiefly of discourses delivered by the Buddha Himself on various occasions. There are also a few discourses delivered by some of His distinguished disciples, such as the Venerables Sariputta, Ananda, Moggallana, etc., included in it. It is like a book of prescriptions, as the sermons embodied therein were expounded to suit the different occasions and the temperaments of various persons.

This Pitaka is divided into five Nikayas or collections:

1.    Digha Nikaya (Collection of Long Discourses)

2.    Majjhima Nikaya (Collection of Middle-length Discourses)

3.    Samyutta Nikaya (Collection of Kindred Sayings)

4.    Anguttara Nikaya (Collection of Discourses arranged in accordance with number)

5.    Khuddaka Nikaya (Smaller Collection)

The fifth is subdivided into fifteen books:

1.    Khuddaka Patha (Shorter Texts)

2.    Dhammapada (The Way of Truth)

3.    Udana (Heartfelt sayings or Paeons of Joy)

4.    Iti Vuttaka ('Thus said' Discourses)

5.    Sutta Nipata (Collected Discourses)

6.    Vimana Vatthu (Stories of Celestial Mansions)

7.    Peta Vatthu (Stories of Petas)

8.    Theragatha (Psalms of the Brethren)

9.    Therigatha (Psalms of the Sisters)

10.  Jataka (Birth Stories)

11.  Niddesa (Expositions)

12.  Patisambhida (Analytical Knowledge)

13.  Apadana (Lives of Saints)

14.  Buddhavamsa (The History of Buddha)

15.  Cariya Pitaka (Modes of Conduct)

Vinaya Pitaka

The Vinaya Pitaka deals with the rules and regulations of the Order of monks (Bhikkhus) and nuns (Bhikkhunis). It describes in detail the gradual development of the Sasana (Dispensation). It also gives an account of the life and ministry of the Buddha. For nearly twenty-years since His Enlightenment, the Buddha did not lay down rules for the control of the Sangha. Later, as the occasion arose, the Buddha promulgated rules for the future discipline of the Sangha.

This Pitaka consists of the five following books:

1.    Parajika Pali (Major Offences)

2.    Pacittiya Pali (Minor Offences)

3.    Mahavagga Pali (Greater Section)

4.    Cullavagga Pali (Smaller Section)

5.    Parivara Pali (Epitome of the Vinaya)

Abhidhamma Pitaka

The Abhidhamma contains the profound philosophy of the Buddha's teaching. In the Abhidhamma everything is analyzed and explained in detail, and as such it is called analytical doctrine. Four ultimate things are enumerated in the Abhidhamma. They are Citta (Consciousness), Cetasika (Mental concomitants), Rupa (Matter) and Nibbana. The so-called being is microscopically analyzed and its component parts are minutely described. Finally the ultimate goal and the method to achieve it is explained with all necessary details.

The Abhidhamma Pitaka is composed of the following works:

1.    Dhamma-Sangani (Enumeration of Phenomena)

2.    Vibhanga (The Book of the Treatises)

3.    Katha Vatthu (Point of Controversy)

4.    Puggala Pannatti (Description of Individuals)

5.    Dhatu Katha (Discussion with reference to Elements)

6.    Yamaka (The Book of Pairs)

7.    Patthana (The Book of Relations)

Source: What Buddhists Believe by Ven. Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda