An Introduction to the Tipiṭaka

0
3908

Tipiṭaka is the three baskets of teachings preached by the Buddha during his 45 years of ministry in Pāḷi. It consists of Vinaya (Disciplinary Code), Suttanta (Discourses), and Abhidhamma (Analysis of the mind).Hình ảnh có liên quan

Vinaya Piṭaka mainly deals with the rules and regulations of the Order of monks (Bhikkhus) and nuns (Bhikkhunis). It describes in detail the gradual development of the Sāsana (Dispensation). 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 any significant rule for the control of the Sangha. However, as the occasion arose later, the Buddha promulgated rules for the benefits of the Sangha. It is compiled in the five following books:

  1. Pārājika (Major Offences)
  2. Pacittiya (Minor Offences)
  3. Mahāvagga (Greater Section)
  4. Cūlavagga (Smaller Section)
  5. Parivāra (Epitome of the Vinaya)

Sutta Piṭaka consists chiefly of discourses delivered by the Buddha Himself on various occasions. There are also a few discourses delivered by some of His distinguished disciples, such as the Venerable Sāriputta, Ānanda, Moggallāna, ect… 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. It is divided into five Nikāyas or collections as follows

  1. Dīgha Nikāya (Collection of 34 Long Discourses)
  2. Majjhima Nikāya (Collection of 152 Middle-length Discourses)
  3. Saṁyutta Nikāya (Collection of 7762 Kindred Sayings)
  4. Aṅguttara Nikāya (Collection of 9557 Discourses arranged in accordance with Number)
  5. Khuddaka Nikāya (Smaller Collection, includes 18 books).

Abhiddhamma Pitaka is, to a deep thinker, 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 Sutta Pitaka.

Four ultimate things (paramattha) are enumerated in the Abhidhamma. They are Consciousness (Citta), Mental Concomitants (Cetasika), Matter (Rūpa) and Nibbāna. The so-called being is microscopically analysed and its component parts are minutely described. Finally the ultimate goal and the method to achieve it is explained in more details. The Abhidhamma Piṭaka is consisted in the following works:

  1. Dhammasaṅgani (Classification of Phenomena)
  2. Vibhaṅga (The Book of the Analysis)
  3. Puggalapaññatti (Designation of Individuals)
  4. Dhātukatha (Discussion with reference to Elements)
  5. Kathāvatthu (Points of Controversy)
  6. Yamaka (The Book of Pairs)
  7. Paṭṭhāna (The Book of Relations)

BÌNH LUẬN/ COMMENT

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here