Tipitaka
The early Buddhist scriptures, the Tipitaka, were written in the
Pali language. Therefore the Tipitaka is often referred to as the
Pali Canon.
The Tipitaka means the The Three Baskets.
This is the Pali term for the earliest Buddhist scripture known as the
Pali canon. It consists of three categories of writings:
Discipline (Vinaya Pitaka) consists of a list of rules for monks
and nuns.
Discourses (Sutta Pitaka) comprises the "Sayings of the
Buddha" (teachings) arranged into discourses (suttas).
Higher Teachings (Abhi-dhamma Pitaka) provides a philosophical
and psychological systemization of the Buddha’s teaching.
Tipitaka ( the
3 ‘ti’ Basket ‘pitaka’ ) is an extensive body of Canonical Pali
literature in which are enshrined the Teachings of Gotama Buddha expounded
for forty-five years from the time of His enlightenment to his
Mahaparinibbana (passing away to the un-conditional).
Even from the earliest times, some kind of
classification and systematization of the Buddha’s Teachings have been
made to facilitate memorization. This was one, beuase only verbal
transmission was employed to pass on the Teachings from one generation to
the next generation.
Three months after the Mahaparinibbana of the Buddha,
the great disciples recited together all the Teachings of their Master,
after compiling them systematically and carefully classifying them under
different heads into specialized sections.
The general discourses and sermons intended for both the
bhikkhus ( holy disciples ) and lay disciples, delivered by the Buddha on
various occasions are collected and classified in a great division known
as the SUTTANTA PITAKA.
The great division in which are incorporated injunctions
and admonitions of the Buddha on modes of conduct, and restraints on both
bodily and verbal actions of bhikkhus and bhikkhunis ( Nuns ), which form
rules of discipline for them, is called the VINAYA
PITAKA.
The philosophical aspect of the Buddha’s Teaching,
more profound and abstract is classified under the great division known as
the ABHIDHAMMA PITAKA. ABHIDHAMMA
deals with ultimate Truths, expounds ultimate Truths and investigates Mind
and Matter and the relationship between them.
The Tipitaka into which the Pali Canon is systematically
divided and handed down from generation to generation together with
commentaries forms the huge collection of literary works which the
bhikkhus of the Order have to learn, study and memorize in discharge of
their duty of study ( gantha dhura ).
Translators
A relatively recent translator of
Pali into Burmese and
the writer of the controversial commentary on Abhidhammattha-sangaha,
called Paramatttha-dipani (Manual of Ultimate Truth) in which he corrected
certain mistakes he had found in the earlier accepted commentary on that
work at that time was Ledi Sayadaw (1846 -
1923).
A more recent translator of the Pali Canon is Ven. Nyanatiloka Thera (1878-1957). He has translated the works into both English and German.
