Tipiaka

Tipiṭaka, often anglicized Tipitaka, is the canonical collection of Theravāda Buddhism, meaning “Three Baskets” in Pali. It is the central scripture of Theravāda and is traditionally written in the Pali language.

The Tipiṭaka is divided into three Pitakas. The Vinaya Pitaka contains the monastic rules and disciplinary procedures governing the life of the Buddhist sangha. The Sutta Pitaka comprises the Buddha’s discourses and collections of sayings, including didactic suttas, dialogues, and sermons. The Abhidhamma Pitaka offers scholastic analyses of mind, phenomena, and their interrelations, presenting a systematic framework for interpretation and practice.

Within the Sutta Pitaka, five nikayas organize the discourses: Digha Nikaya (long dialogues), Majjhima Nikaya (middle-length), Samyutta Nikaya (connected discourses), Anguttara Nikaya (numerical discourses), and Khuddaka Nikaya (a miscellaneous collection that includes texts such as the Dhammapada). The Abhidhamma Pitaka, in turn, contains treatises such as Dhammasangani, Vibhanga, Dhatukatha, and Patthana, which elaborate methodological and philosophical principles.

Origin and transmission: the Tipiṭaka was transmitted orally in early Buddhist communities and was later committed to writing in Sri Lanka. Although Theravāda communities preserve it primarily in Pali, translations exist in many languages to support study and practice. The Tipiṭaka serves as the doctrinal and practical core for Theravāda Buddhists and has influenced Buddhist thought, ethics, and meditation practices across Southeast Asia. It remains distinct from canons of other Buddhist schools, such as the Chinese Agamas used by various Mahayana traditions.