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Sacred Text
There are hundreds of Buddhist sacred writings.
Although the Buddha was a great teacher, he never
wrote anything down. After his death, his teachings
were passed on by word of mouth for almost 400
years. In the first century BCE his followers collected
the oral sources together and put them into writing.
The Tipitaka
One important collection of the Buddha’s
teaching is called the Tipitaka. It is
written in Pali, an ancient language
spoken by the Buddha and the
people of northern India. The
Tipitaka means the three
baskets. It got its name because
the writers wrote the Buddha’s
teaching on palm leaves that
were later stored in baskets.
The Tipitaka:
 Vinaya
 Sutra
- Discipline:
Rules for monks and nuns who try
to live like the Buddha.
- Instruction:
Sermons about the
Four Noble Truths and
The Middle Way.
 Abhidharma - Teaching:
Explanations and comments
on the Buddha’s teaching.
The lotus flower, a common symbol in Buddhism.
Questions
1. List some facts about the Pali language.
2. What is the Tipitaka?
3. How did the Tipitaka get its name?
4. How did Buddhist sacred writing develop from
the oral tradition to the written word?
5. Outline what is contained in the collection of
Buddhist sacred writing called the Tipitaka.
A Buddhist monk designing a mandala for use in meditation.
Section C: Foundations of Religion - Buddhism
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