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The Tipitaka or Pali canon is the collection of the primary texts of early Buddhism which form the doctrinal foundation of Theravada Buddhism. The 3 divisions of the Tipitaka are:
1. Vinaya Pitaka, “The Basket of Discipline”
- (V / Vin) VINAYA: Monastic discipline and legal history.
Ptmk: Patimokkha Sutta (or Matika): 227 monks’ rules; 311 nuns’ rules.
SuVbh: Sutta Vibhanga: commentary on the Patimokkha.
Khdhk: Khandhaka:
Mv: Mahavagga (10 khandhakas)
Cv: Cullavagga (12 khandhakas): rituals and history.
Parv: Parivara: systematic legal survey (late work, Sri Lanka)
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2. Sutta Pitaka, “The Basket of Discourses”
Collections of teachings moral virtues, meditation and wisdom by the Buddha and his early disciples. Namely:
- (D / DN) DIGHA NIKAYA: (the long collection): dialogues & accounts serving as a prospectus (34 suttas)
- (M / MN) MAJJHIMA NIKAYA: (the middle-length collection): dialogues on doctrine & meditation (152 suttas)
- (S / SN) SAMYUTTA NIKAYA: (the connected collection): on meditation mostly for monastics (2889 suttas)
- (A / AN) ANGUTTARA NIKAYA:“Single-item Upwards Collection” of 2344 Suttas.
- KHUDDAKA NIKAYA: “Collection of Little Texts”, 15 separate miscellaneous texts, many in verse form, which contain both some of the earliest and latest material in the Canon.
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3. Abhidhamma Pitaka: “The Basket of Topic Relating to Dhamma”
Fine-grained analysis of experience, which seeks to systematise Sutta teachings, expressing them in psychologically and philosophical exact language.