Difference between revisions of "Sutta Pitaka"
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
[[File:41642 n.jpg|thumb|250px|]] | [[File:41642 n.jpg|thumb|250px|]] | ||
<poem> | <poem> | ||
| − | Sutta Pitaka, or Suttantapitaka: One of the three divisions of the Tipitaka. It consists of five Nikāyas | + | [[Sutta Pitaka]], or Suttantapitaka: One of the three divisions of the [[Tipitaka]]. It consists of five [[Nikāyas]] |
| − | Dīgha, | + | [[Dīgha]], |
| − | Majjhima, | + | [[Majjhima]], |
| − | Samyutta, | + | [[Samyutta]], |
| − | Anguttara | + | [[Anguttara]] |
| − | Khuddaka. | + | [[Khuddaka]]. |
| − | The first four are homogeneous and cognate in character. A number of suttas appear in two or more of them. | + | The first four are homogeneous and {{Wiki|cognate}} in [[character]]. A number of [[suttas]] appear in two or more of them. |
| − | The Sutta Pitaka, the second division of the Tipitaka, consists of more than 10,000 suttas (discourses) delivered by the Buddha and his close disciples during and shortly after the Buddha's forty-five year teaching career, as well as many additional verses by other members of the Sangha. More than one thousand sutta translations are available on this website. | + | The [[Sutta Pitaka]], the second division of the [[Tipitaka]], consists of more than 10,000 [[suttas]] (discourses) delivered by the [[Buddha]] and his close [[disciples]] during and shortly after the [[Buddha's]] forty-five year [[teaching]] career, as well as many additional verses by other members of the [[Sangha]]. More than one thousand [[sutta]] translations are available on this website. |
| − | The suttas are grouped into five nikayas, or collections: | + | The [[suttas]] are grouped into five [[nikayas]], or collections: |
[[File:101213171724.jpg|thumb|250px|]] | [[File:101213171724.jpg|thumb|250px|]] | ||
| − | Digha Nikaya | + | [[Digha Nikaya]] |
| − | The "Long" Discourses (Pali digha = "long") consists of 34 suttas, including the longest ones in the Canon. The subject matter of these suttas ranges widely, from colorful folkloric accounts of the beings inhabiting the deva worlds (DN 20) to down-to-earth practical meditation instructions (DN 22), and everything in between. Recent scholarship suggests that a distinguishing trait of the Digha Nikaya may be that it was "intended for the purpose of propaganda, to attract converts to the new religion." [1] | + | The "Long" Discourses ([[Pali]] [[digha]] = "long") consists of 34 [[suttas]], including the longest ones in the [[Canon]]. The [[subject]] matter of these [[suttas]] ranges widely, from colorful folkloric accounts of the [[beings]] inhabiting the [[deva worlds]] (DN 20) to down-to-earth practical [[meditation]] instructions (DN 22), and everything in between. Recent {{Wiki|scholarship}} suggests that a distinguishing trait of the [[Digha Nikaya]] may be that it was "intended for the purpose of {{Wiki|propaganda}}, to attract converts to the new [[religion]]." [1] |
| − | Majjhima Nikaya | + | [[Majjhima Nikaya]] |
| − | The "Middle-length" Discourses (Pali majjhima = "middle") consists of 152 suttas of varying length. These range from some of the most profound and difficult suttas in the Canon (e.g., MN 1) to engaging stories full of human pathos and drama that illustrate important principles of the law of kamma (e.g., MN 57, MN 86). | + | The "Middle-length" Discourses ([[Pali]] [[majjhima]] = "middle") consists of 152 [[suttas]] of varying length. These range from some of the most profound and difficult [[suttas]] in the [[Canon]] (e.g., MN 1) to engaging stories full of [[human]] pathos and {{Wiki|drama}} that illustrate important {{Wiki|principles}} of the law of [[kamma]] (e.g., MN 57, MN 86). |
| − | Samyutta Nikaya | + | [[Samyutta Nikaya]] |
| − | The "Grouped" Discourses (Pali samyutta = "group" or "collection") consists of 2,889 relatively short suttas grouped together by theme into 56 samyuttas. | + | The "Grouped" Discourses ([[Pali]] [[samyutta]] = "group" or "collection") consists of 2,889 relatively short [[suttas]] grouped together by theme into 56 samyuttas. |
| − | Anguttara Nikaya | + | [[Anguttara Nikaya]] |
| − | The "Further-factored" Discourses (Pali anga = "factor" + uttara = "beyond," "further") consists of several thousand short suttas, grouped together into eleven nipatas according to the number of items of Dhamma covered in each sutta. For example, the Eka-nipata ("Book of the Ones") contains suttas about a single item of Dhamma; the Duka-nipata ("Book of the Twos") contains suttas dealing with two items of Dhamma, and so on. | + | The "Further-factored" Discourses ([[Pali]] [[anga]] = "factor" + [[uttara]] = "beyond," "further") consists of several thousand short [[suttas]], grouped together into eleven [[nipatas]] according to the number of items of [[Dhamma]] covered in each [[sutta]]. For example, the Eka-nipata ("[[Book]] of the Ones") contains [[suttas]] about a single item of [[Dhamma]]; the Duka-nipata ("[[Book]] of the Twos") contains [[suttas]] dealing with two items of [[Dhamma]], and so on. |
| − | Khuddaka Nikaya | + | [[Khuddaka Nikaya]] |
| − | The "Division of Short Books" (Pali khudda = "smaller," "lesser"), consisting of fifteen books (eighteen in the Burmese edition): | + | The "Division of Short [[Books]]" ([[Pali]] khudda = "smaller," "lesser"), consisting of fifteen [[books]] (eighteen in the [[Burmese]] edition): |
| − | Khuddakapatha — The Short Passages | + | [[Khuddakapatha]] — The [[Short Passages]] |
| − | Dhammapada — The Path of Dhamma | + | [[Dhammapada]] — The [[Path]] of [[Dhamma]] |
| − | Udana — Exclamations | + | [[Udana]] — Exclamations |
| − | Itivuttaka — The Thus-saids | + | [[Itivuttaka]] — The Thus-saids |
| − | Sutta Nipata — The Sutta Collection | + | [[Sutta Nipata]] — The [[Sutta]] Collection |
| − | Vimanavatthu — Stories of the Celestial Mansions | + | [[Vimanavatthu]] — Stories of the [[Celestial Mansions]] |
| − | Petavatthu — Stories of the Hungry Ghosts | + | [[Petavatthu]] — Stories of the [[Hungry Ghosts]] |
| − | Theragatha — Verses of the Elder Monks | + | [[Theragatha]] — Verses of the Elder [[Monks]] |
| − | Therigatha — Verses of the Elder Nuns | + | [[Therigatha]] — Verses of the Elder [[Nuns]] |
| − | Jataka — Birth Stories | + | [[Jataka]] — [[Birth Stories]] |
| − | Niddesa — Exposition | + | [[Niddesa]] — Exposition |
| − | Patisambhidamagga — Path of Discrimination | + | [[Patisambhidamagga]] — [[Path]] of {{Wiki|Discrimination}} |
| − | Apadana — Stories | + | [[Apadana]] — Stories |
| − | Buddhavamsa — History of the Buddhas | + | [[Buddhavamsa]] — History of the [[Buddhas]] |
| − | Cariyapitaka — Basket of Conduct | + | [[Cariyapitaka]] — [[Basket of Conduct]] |
| − | Nettippakarana (Burmese Tipitaka only) | + | [[Nettippakarana]] ([[Burmese]] [[Tipitaka]] only) |
| − | Petakopadesa (Burmese Tipitaka only) | + | [[Petakopadesa]] ([[Burmese]] [[Tipitaka]] only) |
| − | Milindapañha — Questions of Milinda (Burmese Tipitaka only) | + | [[Milindapañha]] — [[Questions of Milinda]] ([[Burmese]] [[Tipitaka]] only) |
[[File:123485.jpg|thumb|250px|]] | [[File:123485.jpg|thumb|250px|]] | ||
Notes | Notes | ||
1. | 1. | ||
| − | Bhikkhu Bodhi, Connected Discourses of the Buddha (Somerville, Mass.: Wisdom Publications, 2000), p.31, referring to Joy Manné's "Categories of Sutta in the Pali Nikayas and Their Implications for Our Appreciation of the Buddhist Teaching and Literature," Journal of the Pali Text Society 15 (1990): 29-87. | + | [[Bhikkhu Bodhi]], [[Connected Discourses]] of the [[Buddha]] (Somerville, Mass.: [[Wisdom Publications]], 2000), p.31, referring to [[Joy]] Manné's "Categories of [[Sutta]] in the [[Pali]] [[Nikayas]] and Their Implications for Our [[Appreciation]] of the [[Buddhist Teaching]] and {{Wiki|Literature}}," Journal of the [[Pali Text Society]] 15 (1990): 29-87. |
Revision as of 06:05, 23 December 2013
Sutta Pitaka, or Suttantapitaka: One of the three divisions of the Tipitaka. It consists of five Nikāyas
Dīgha,
Majjhima,
Samyutta,
Anguttara
Khuddaka.
The first four are homogeneous and cognate in character. A number of suttas appear in two or more of them.
The Sutta Pitaka, the second division of the Tipitaka, consists of more than 10,000 suttas (discourses) delivered by the Buddha and his close disciples during and shortly after the Buddha's forty-five year teaching career, as well as many additional verses by other members of the Sangha. More than one thousand sutta translations are available on this website.
The suttas are grouped into five nikayas, or collections:
Digha Nikaya
The "Long" Discourses (Pali digha = "long") consists of 34 suttas, including the longest ones in the Canon. The subject matter of these suttas ranges widely, from colorful folkloric accounts of the beings inhabiting the deva worlds (DN 20) to down-to-earth practical meditation instructions (DN 22), and everything in between. Recent scholarship suggests that a distinguishing trait of the Digha Nikaya may be that it was "intended for the purpose of propaganda, to attract converts to the new religion." [1]
Majjhima Nikaya
The "Middle-length" Discourses (Pali majjhima = "middle") consists of 152 suttas of varying length. These range from some of the most profound and difficult suttas in the Canon (e.g., MN 1) to engaging stories full of human pathos and drama that illustrate important principles of the law of kamma (e.g., MN 57, MN 86).
Samyutta Nikaya
The "Grouped" Discourses (Pali samyutta = "group" or "collection") consists of 2,889 relatively short suttas grouped together by theme into 56 samyuttas.
Anguttara Nikaya
The "Further-factored" Discourses (Pali anga = "factor" + uttara = "beyond," "further") consists of several thousand short suttas, grouped together into eleven nipatas according to the number of items of Dhamma covered in each sutta. For example, the Eka-nipata ("Book of the Ones") contains suttas about a single item of Dhamma; the Duka-nipata ("Book of the Twos") contains suttas dealing with two items of Dhamma, and so on.
Khuddaka Nikaya
The "Division of Short Books" (Pali khudda = "smaller," "lesser"), consisting of fifteen books (eighteen in the Burmese edition):
Khuddakapatha — The Short Passages
Dhammapada — The Path of Dhamma
Udana — Exclamations
Itivuttaka — The Thus-saids
Sutta Nipata — The Sutta Collection
Vimanavatthu — Stories of the Celestial Mansions
Petavatthu — Stories of the Hungry Ghosts
Theragatha — Verses of the Elder Monks
Therigatha — Verses of the Elder Nuns
Jataka — Birth Stories
Niddesa — Exposition
Patisambhidamagga — Path of Discrimination
Apadana — Stories
Buddhavamsa — History of the Buddhas
Cariyapitaka — Basket of Conduct
Nettippakarana (Burmese Tipitaka only)
Petakopadesa (Burmese Tipitaka only)
Milindapañha — Questions of Milinda (Burmese Tipitaka only)
Notes
1.
Bhikkhu Bodhi, Connected Discourses of the Buddha (Somerville, Mass.: Wisdom Publications, 2000), p.31, referring to Joy Manné's "Categories of Sutta in the Pali Nikayas and Their Implications for Our Appreciation of the Buddhist Teaching and Literature," Journal of the Pali Text Society 15 (1990): 29-87.
