Theravada. Theravāda (Sanskrit: स्थविरवाद) is a branch of Buddhism that uses the teaching of the Pāli Canon, a collection of the oldest recorded Buddhist texts, as its doctrinal core, but also includes a rich diversity of traditions and practices that have developed over its long history of interactions with various cultures and communities. It is the dominant form of religion in Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Burma, and is practiced by minority groups in Vietnam, Bangladesh, and China. In addition, the diaspora of all of these groups as well as converts around the world practice Theravāda Buddhism. Adherents[edit] Theravāda Buddhism is followed by various countries and people around the globe, and are: Today, Theravāda Buddhists, otherwise known as Theravadins, number over 150 million worldwide, and during the past few decades Theravāda Buddhism has begun to take root in the West[a] and in the Buddhist revival in India.
[web 1] History[edit] Origins[edit] Transmission to Sri Lanka[edit] [edit]
Tripiṭaka. Tripiṭaka (Pali: Tipitaka) is a Pali word meaning Three Baskets. It is the traditional term used by Buddhist traditions to describe their various canons of scriptures.[1] The expression Three Baskets originally referred to three receptacles containing the scrolls on which the Buddhist scriptures were originally preserved. [citation needed] Hence, the Tripiṭaka traditionally contains three "baskets" of teachings: a Sūtra Piṭaka (Sanskrit; Pali: Sutta Pitaka), a Vinaya Piṭaka (Sanskrit & Pali) and an Abhidharma Piṭaka (Sanskrit; Pali: Abhidhamma Piṭaka). The three categories[edit] Tripitaka is the three main categories of texts that make up the Buddhist canon.
Sutras[edit] The Buddha delivered all His sermons in local language of northern India. Abhidharma[edit] Philosophical and psychological discourse and interpretation of Buddhist doctrine. Vinaya[edit] Rules and regulation of monastic life that range from dress code and dietary rules to prohibition in personal conduct. Mahāsāṃghika[edit] Sutta Pitaka. The Sutta Pitaka (suttapiṭaka; or Suttanta Pitaka; cf Sanskrit सूत्र पिटक Sūtra Piṭaka) is the first of the three divisions of the Tipitaka or Pali Canon, the Pali collection of Buddhist writings, the scriptures of Theravada Buddhism. The Sutta Pitaka contains more than 10,000 suttas (teachings) attributed to the Buddha or his close companions.
Origins[edit] The scriptures tell how the First Council held shortly after the Buddha's death collected together the discipline (vinaya), and the dharma in five collections. Tradition holds that little was added to the Canon after this. Contents[edit] There are five nikayas (collections) of suttas: Digha Nikaya (dīghanikāya), the "long" discourses.Majjhima Nikaya, the "middle-length" discourses.Samyutta Nikaya (saṃyutta-), the "connected" discourses.Anguttara Nikaya (aṅguttara-), the "numerical" discourses.Khuddaka Nikaya, the "minor collection". Digha Nikaya[edit] Majjhima Nikaya[edit] Samyutta Nikaya[edit] Anguttara Nikaya[edit] Khuddaka Nikaya[edit]
Abhidharma. Abhidharma (Sanskrit) or Abhidhamma (Pāli) are ancient (3rd century BCE and later) Buddhist texts which contain detailed scholastic and scientific reworkings of doctrinal material appearing in the Buddhist Sutras, according to schematic classifications. The Abhidhamma works do not contain systematic philosophical treatises, but summaries or abstract and systematic lists.[1] According to the Macmillan Encyclopedia of Buddhism, Abhidhamma started as an elaboration of the teachings of the suttas, but later developed independent doctrines.[2] The literal translation of the term Abhidharma is unclear. Two possibilities are most commonly given: abhi - higher or special + dharma- teaching, philosophy, thus making Abhidharma the "higher teachings"abhi - about + dharma of the teaching, translating it instead as "about the teaching" or even "metateaching".
In the West, the Abhidhamma has generally been considered the core of what is referred to as "Buddhist Psychology".[3] Origins[edit] [edit] [edit] Vinaya Pitaka. The Vinaya Piṭaka is a Buddhist scripture, one of the three parts that make up the Tripitaka. Its primary subject matter is the monastic rules for monks and nuns. The name Vinaya Piṭaka (vinayapiṭaka) is the same in Pāli, Sanskrit and other dialects used by early Buddhists, and means basket of discipline. Date[edit] Scholarly consensus places the composition of the Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya in the early centuries of the first millennium, though all the manuscripts and translations are relatively late.[1] Surviving versions[edit] Six versions survive complete, of which three are still in use. In addition, portions of various versions survive in various languages. Origins[edit] It was compiled at the First Council shortly after the Buddha's death, and recited by Upali, with little later addition.
Contents[edit] The Pali version of the Patimokkha, the code of conduct that applies to Buddhist monastics, contains 227 major rules for bhikkhus and 311 major rules for bhikkhunis. See also[edit]