What is the Pali Canon: The Tipitaka

Definition

The Pali Canon or Tipitaka ("Three Baskets") is the oldest and most complete collection of Buddhist texts. It is the basis of the Theravada tradition.

The Three Baskets

1. Vinaya Pitaka (The Basket of Discipline)

Contains the rules for monastic life. The core is the Patimokkha.

2. Sutta Pitaka (The Basket of Discourses)

Contains the discourses of the Buddha. Organized in five Nikayas.

3. Abhidhamma Pitaka (The Superior Basket)

Contains the philosophical and psychological analysis. 7 texts.

Pali Language

Pali is a language of the Indo-Aryan family, close to Sanskrit. It is the language of the Theravada Canon. It is believed to be close to Magadhi, the language the Buddha spoke.

Preservation

The Pali Canon was preserved by the oral tradition until the 1st c. CE.

Importance

The Pali Canon is important because:

1. It is the oldest and most complete collection of the Buddha's teachings
2. It has been preserved more completely than other canons
3. It serves as the basis of the Theravada tradition
4. It is the main source for Buddhist studies

Modern Translations

The Pali Canon has been translated into English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Chinese, etc.

Sources

• The Pali Text Society
• Bhikkhu Bodhi: In the Buddha's Words
• The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism