Contents
40. TRI-PITAKA AND TWELVE
DIVISIONS
Tripitaka (or Tipitika) is the collection of the teachings of the Buddha over
45 years. It consists of Sutra (the conventional teaching), Vinaya
(Disciplinary code) and Abhidhamma (commentaries).
The Tripitaka was compiled and arranged in its present form by the disciples
who had immediate contact with Shakyamuni
Buddha.
The Buddha had passed away, but the sublime Dharma which he unreservedly bequeathed to
humanity still exists in its pristine purity.
Although the Buddha had left no written records of his teachings, his
distinguished disciples preserved them by committing to memory and
transmitting them orally from generation to generation.
40.1 Brief historical background
One hundred years after the First Buddhist Council, some disciples saw the
need to change certain minor rules. The orthodox Bhiksus said that nothing should be changed
while the others insisted on modifying some disciplinary rules (Vinaya).
Finally, the formation of different schools of Buddhism germinated after his
council. And in the Second Council, only matters pertaining to the Vinaya
were discussed and no controversy about the Dharma was reported.
In the 3rd Century B.C. during the time of Emperor Asoka, the Third Council was held to
discuss the differences of opinion held by the Sangha community. At this
Council the differences were not confined to the Vinaya but were also
connected with the Dharma. The Abhidhamma Pitaka was discussed and
included at this Council. The Council which was held in Sri Lanka in 80 B.C.
is known as the 4th Council under the patronage of the pious King Vattagamini
Abbaya. It was at this time in Sri Lanka that the Tripitaka was first
committed to writing in Pali language.
The Sutra Pitaka (Sutra Pitaka in Sanskrit) consists mainly of discourses
delivered by the Buddha himself on various occasions. There were also a few
discourses delivered by some of his distinguished disciples (e.g. Sariputta, Ananda, Moggallana) included in it. It is
like a book of prescriptions, as the sermons embodied therein were expounded
to suit the different occasions and the temperaments of various persons.
There may be seemingly contradictory statements, but they should not be
misconstrued as they were opportunely uttered by the Buddha to suit a
particular purpose.
This Pitaka is divided into five Nikayas or collections, viz.:-
The fifth is subdivided into fifteen books:-
The Vinaya Pitaka mainly deals with the rules and regulations of the Order of
monks (Bhikhus) and nuns (Bhikhunis). It
also gives an account of the life and ministry of the Buddha. Indirectly it
reveals some useful information about ancient history, Indian customs, arts,
sciences, etc.
For nearly twenty years since his enlightenment, the Buddha did not lay down
rules for the control of the Sangha. Later, as the occasion arose, the Buddha
promulgated rules for the future discipline of the Sangha.
This Pitaka consists of the following five books:-
The Abhidhamma (Abhidharma in Sanskrit), also known as Shastra, is the most important and
interesting, as it contains the profound philosophy of the Buddha's teaching
in contrast to the illuminating but simpler discourses in the Sutra Pitaka.
In the Sutra Pitaka one often finds references to individual, being, etc., but
in the Abhidhamma, instead of such conventional terms, we meet with ultimate
terms, such as aggregates, mind, matter etc.
In the Abhidhamma everything is analyzed and explained in detail, and as such
it is called analytical doctrine (Vibhajja Vada).
Four ultimate things (Paramattha) are enumerated in the Abhidhamma.
They are Citta (Consciousness), Cetasika (Mental concomitants).
Rupa (Matter) and Nibbana.
The so-called being is microscopically analyzed and its component parts are
minutely described. Finally the ultimate goal and the method to achieve it
is explained with all necessary details.
The Abhidhamma Pitaka is composed of the following works:
40.5 Twelve Divisions of Buddhist
Canons
The content of Buddhist canons is divided into twelve divisions, categorized
by the types of forms of literature (i.e., Sutra, Geya and Gatha) and the
context (i.e., all other nine divisions). It is known as the Twelve
Divisions.
40.6 Nine Divisions of Buddhist
Canons
The term is generally referred to Hinayana. There are only nine divisions
excluding Udana, Vaipulya and Vyakarana.
However, there is also a Mahayana division of nine of the Twelve Divisions,
i.e., all except Nidana, Avadana and Upadesa.
40.1 Brief historical background
40.2 Sutra Pitaka
40.3 Vinaya Pitaka
40.4 Abhidhamma Pitaka
40.5 Twelve Divisions of Buddhist Canons
40.6 Nine Divisions of Buddhist Canons
Immediately after the final passing away of the Buddha, 500 distinguished
Arahats held a convention known as the First Buddhist Council to rehearse the
Doctrine taught by the Buddha. Venerable Ananda, who was a faithful attendant of
the Buddha and had the special privilege of hearing all the
discourses the Buddha ever
uttered, recited the Sutra, whilst the Venerable Upali recited the
Vinaya, the rules of conduct for the Sangha.
