Sutt

Sutt refers to a collection of Buddhist scriptures, particularly those belonging to the Theravada tradition. The word "sutta" is derived from the Pali language and literally means "discourse" or "thread." These texts are considered to be the teachings of the Buddha, Gautama Buddha, and are compiled in the Sutta Pitaka, one of the three main divisions of the Pali Canon.

The Sutta Pitaka is further divided into five Nikayas, or collections: the Digha Nikaya (long discourses), Majjhima Nikaya (middle-length discourses), Samyutta Nikaya (connected discourses), Anguttara Nikaya (numerical discourses), and Khuddaka Nikaya (minor collection). Each sutta is typically presented as a dialogue or a monologue, outlining Buddhist doctrines, ethical guidelines, and philosophical insights. They cover a wide range of topics including karma, rebirth, the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, meditation, and the nature of reality.

Scholars generally regard the Sutta Pitaka as the earliest surviving record of the Buddha's teachings. While the exact dating of the compilation is debated, many suttas are believed to have been preserved orally for centuries before being written down. They serve as a foundational text for Theravada Buddhism and are widely studied and revered by Buddhists worldwide. The content of the suttas aims to guide practitioners towards the cessation of suffering and the attainment of enlightenment.