Pitaka

Pitaka, meaning basket, is a term used in Buddhist literature to denote one of the three principal collections of scriptures in the Theravada tradition. Together, the three Pitakas form the Tipitaka, or Three Baskets, which constitutes the canonical corpus of Theravada Buddhism. Each Pitaka serves a distinct function: the Vinaya Pitaka contains the monastic code and disciplinary rules for the Buddhist monastic community; the Sutta Pitaka gathers the Buddha’s discourses and those of his close disciples, and is organized into five collections (the Digha, Majjhima, Samyutta, Anguttara, and Khuddaka Nikaya); the Abhidhamma Pitaka presents systematic analysis and scholastic treatment of phenomena (dhammas), focusing on metaphysical, psychological, and ethical categories.

Historically, the Tipitaka was transmitted orally after the Buddha’s passing and was eventually written down in Sri Lanka, with further transmission and revision spreading to other Theravada communities. The canon remains central to religious life and scholarship in countries such as Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia. In modern times, critical editions and translations have been produced by organizations including the Pali Text Society. Outside Theravada, other Buddhist traditions possess their own canons; for example, the Chinese Tripitaka (Taisho edition) and the Tibetan Kangyur and Tengyur. The term Pitaka is sometimes used more broadly to refer to scriptural collections in Buddhist traditions, but in Theravada it denotes one of the three canonical baskets.

Pitakas continue to serve as foundational sources for monastic discipline, ethical instruction, meditation guidance, and philosophical analysis.