Tripitaka
(Sk.)
Lit., “the three baskets”; the name of the Buddhist canon. It is composed of three divisions : (1) the doctrine; (2) the rules and laws for the priesthood and ascetics; (3) the philosophical dissertations and metaphysics: to wit, the Abhidharma, defined by Buddhaghosa as that law (dharma) which goes beyond (abhi) the law. The Abhidharma contains the most profoundly metaphysical and philosophical teachings, and is the store‐house whence the Mahâyâna and Hînayâna Schools got their fundamental doctrines. There is a fourth division — the Samyakta Pitaka. But as it is a later addition by the Chinese Buddhists, it is not accepted by the Southern Church of Siam and Ceylon. (TG).
“Three Baskets”: the canonical collections of monastic discipline (Vinaya-Pitaka), discourses (Sutta-Pitaka) and higher teaching (Abhidhamma-Pitaka). De Zirkoff refers readers to the Pali Text Society for the Theravada canon. (BCW 3:533).
Some links:
- Quotes: H. P. Blavatsky, Zirkoff, Boris
- CTD article in Russian: Трипитака
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Shortly: Lit., “the three baskets”; the name of the Buddhist canon. It is composed of three divisions : (1) t...