Research In: Religious Studies

Tripitaka and Other Scriptures

There is not a single, universally-acknowledged canon of Buddhist scriptures; the canon depends on which tradition and/or school you are studying. The three largest traditions in modern Buddhism are Theravada, Mahayana (including Pure Land and Zen Buddhism), and Vajrayana (also called Tantric Buddhism; includes Tibetan Buddhism). 

Important scriptures for these traditions include, but are not limited to: 

• The Tripitaka ("three baskets"; also called the Pali Canon) is the oldest surviving collection of Buddhist scripture. It is believed to have been transmitted as an oral tradition from the time of the Buddha (c.5th century BCE) in the Pali language, and was first written down in the 1st century BCE. It is the most important scripture for Theravada Buddhism, and is generally accepted by most schools. The three "baskets" are vinaya (monastic rule), sutra (teachings of the Buddha), and abhidarma (analytical/philosophical works). 
   
• The Mahayana sutras are a collection of texts considered canonical by the Mahayana tradition. There are many different collections of sutras, as well as individual works e.g., the Lotus Sutra, which are considered particularly significant. These sutras are believed to have originated as written works in Sanskrit c.1st century BCE, rather than as an oral tradition, and were traditionally said to have emerged distinctly from the Pali Canon because they were transmitted 'in secret.' 
   
• The tantras and shastras, in addition to some Mahayana sutras, are the primary canonical texts in Vajrayana Buddhism, though the specific texts vary by the school of Vajrayana. The Tibetan Buddhist canon specifically includes the Kangyur (recorded teachings of Buddha) and Tengyur (commentaries on the Buddha's teachings). 
   
• Jatakas ("birth stories") are traditional tales relating largely to the Buddha and his previously lives. Different collections of jatakas are canonical in different schools. 

Unlike scriptures in some other religious traditions, the tripitaka and other Buddhist scriptures are not considered divine revelation. Rather, they are a compilation of the teachings of Buddha and other earthly teachers, and are therefore subject to interpretation and even questioning. 

For helpful overviews of some of these canons, see: 

In the Library: 

At Holy Cross, we organize our books using a system called Library of Congress Classification or LCC. LCC is based on the subject of the books. Each letter represents a specific subject. Each subject is broken down into more specific letter sections, each of which is further broken down into number ranges for specific topics. Most call numbers have additional  numbers and letters on the end of them, which are used to give each book a unique spot on the library shelves. 

The Libraries own multiple editions of the Buddhist scriptures. In the Library of Congress system, most canonical literature regardless of its proper terminology is labeled as 'Tripitaka or Canonical Literature'. 
 

Suggested Resources: