There are a great variety of Buddhist texts. Buddhists place varying value on them: attitudes range from worship of the text itself, to dismissal of some texts as falsification of the ineffable truth. They therefore cannot be called "scripture" in the sense of other religions. The texts can be categorized in a number of ways, but the most fundamental division is that between canonical and non-canonical texts. The former, also called the Sutras (Sanskrit) or Suttas (Pali), are held to be, literally or metaphoricall ...

Including:

• Buddhist texts - Canonical texts
• Buddhist texts - Non-canonical texts
• Buddhist texts - Texts of the Nikaya Schools
• Buddhist texts - Sutta
• Buddhist texts - Abhidharma
• Buddhist texts - Non-canonical texts
• Buddhist texts - Mahayana texts
• Buddhist texts - Perfection of Wisdom Texts
• Buddhist texts - Saddharma-pundarika
• Buddhist texts - Pure Land Sutras
• Buddhist texts - The Vimalakirti Nirdesha Sutra
• Buddhist texts - Samadhi Sutras
• Buddhist texts - Confession Sutras
• Buddhist texts - The Avatamsaka Sutra
• Buddhist texts - Third Turning Sutras
• Buddhist texts - Tathagatagarbha class sutras
• Buddhist texts - Collected Sutras
• Buddhist texts - Transmigration Sutras
• Buddhist texts - Discipline Sutras
• Buddhist texts - Sutras Devoted to Individual Figures
• Buddhist texts - Proto-Mahayana Sutras
• Buddhist texts - Non-canonical texts
• Buddhist texts - References
• Buddhist texts - Vajrayana Texts
• Buddhist texts - Buddhist tantras
• Buddhist texts - Other products of the Vajrayana literature

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Read more here: » Vinaya Pitaka: Encyclopedia - Vinaya Pitaka

There are a great variety of Buddhist texts. Buddhists place varying value on them: attitudes range from worship of the text itself, to dismissal of some texts as falsification of the ineffable truth. They therefore cannot be called "scripture" in the sense of other religions. The texts can be categorized in a number of ways, but the most fundamental division is that between canonical and non-canonical texts. The former, also called the Sutras (Sanskrit) or Suttas (Pali), are held to be, literally or metaphoricall ...

Including:

• Buddhist texts - Canonical texts
• Buddhist texts - Non-canonical texts
• Buddhist texts - Texts of the Nikaya Schools
• Buddhist texts - Vinaya
• Buddhist texts - Sutta
• Buddhist texts - Abhidharma
• Buddhist texts - Non-canonical texts
• Buddhist texts - Mahayana texts
• Buddhist texts - Perfection of Wisdom Texts
• Buddhist texts - Saddharma-pundarika
• Buddhist texts - Pure Land Sutras
• Buddhist texts - The Vimalakirti Nirdesha Sutra
• Buddhist texts - Samadhi Sutras
• Buddhist texts - Confession Sutras
• Buddhist texts - The Avatamsaka Sutra
• Buddhist texts - Third Turning Sutras
• Buddhist texts - Tathagatagarbha class sutras
• Buddhist texts - Collected Sutras
• Buddhist texts - Transmigration Sutras
• Buddhist texts - Discipline Sutras
• Buddhist texts - Sutras Devoted to Individual Figures
• Buddhist texts - Proto-Mahayana Sutras
• Buddhist texts - Non-canonical texts
• Buddhist texts - References
• Buddhist texts - Vajrayana Texts
• Buddhist texts - Buddhist tantras
• Buddhist texts - Other products of the Vajrayana literature

Read more here: » Buddhist texts: Encyclopedia - Buddhist texts

Buddhism: Buddhist Scriptures

The Buddhist canon of scripture is known in Sanskrit as the Tripitaka and in Pali as the Tipitaka. These terms literally mean "three baskets" and refers to the three main divisions of the canon, which are:

1.    The Vinaya Piaaka, containing disciplinary rules for the Sangha of Buddhist monks and nuns, as well as a range of other texts which explain why and how rules were instituted, supporting material, and doctrinal clarification.

2.    The Sutta Pitaka (Pali; Sanskrit: Sutra Pitaka), containing discourses of the Buddha.

3.    The Abhidhamma or commentary Pitaka, containing a philosophical systematization of the Buddha's teaching, including a detailed analysis of Buddhist psychology.

Read more here: » Buddhism: Buddhist Scriptures

For the Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra, a text of East Asian Mahayana Buddhism, see Nirvana Sutra. The Mahaparinibbana Sutta is a Buddhist sutra in the Digha Nikaya of the Tripitaka. It concerns the end of Gautama Buddha's life. ...

Read more here: » Mahaparinibbana Sutta: Encyclopedia - Mahaparinibbana Sutta

The Majjhima Nikaya ("Collection of Middle-length Discourses") is the second of the five nikayas, or collections, in the Sutta Pitaka, which is one of the "three baskets" that compose the Pali Tipitaka. This nikaya consists of 152 discourses by the Buddha and his chief disciples, which together constitute a comprehensive body of teaching concerning all aspects of the Buddha's teachings. See also. Anguttara Nikaya Buddhist texts Digha Nikaya Khuddaka Nikaya S ...

Read more here: » Majjhima Nikaya: Encyclopedia - Majjhima Nikaya

Main article: Physical characteristics of the Buddha Although the Buddha was not represented in human form until around the 1st century CE (see Buddhist art), the Physical characteristics of the Buddha are described in one of the central texts of the traditional Pali canon, the Digha Nikaya, in the discourse titled "Sutra of the Marks" (Pali: Lakkhana Sutta) (D.iii.142ff.). These characteristics comprise 32 signs, "The 32 signs of a Great Man" (Pali: Lakkhana Mahapurisa 32), and were supplemented by a ...

See also:

Buddhist symbolism, Buddhist symbolism - Early aniconic symbols, Buddhist symbolism - The 32 signs of a Great Man and 80 Secondary Characteristics, Buddhist symbolism - The Mudras, Buddhist symbolism - The eight auspicious symbols of Tibetan & Nepali Buddhism, Buddhist symbolism - International symbols of the World Fellowship of Buddhists

Read more here: » Buddhist symbolism: Encyclopedia II - Buddhist symbolism - The 32 signs of a Great Man and 80 Secondary Characteristics

Main article: Physical characteristics of the Buddha Although the Buddha was not represented in human form until around the 1st century CE (see Buddhist art), the Physical characteristics of the Buddha are described in one of the central texts of the traditional Pali canon, the Digha Nikaya, in the discourse titled "Sutra of the Marks" (Pali: Lakkhana Sutta) (D.iii.142ff.). These characteristics comprise 32 signs, "The 32 signs of a Great Man" (Pali: Lakkhana Mahapurisa 32), and were supplemented by a ...

See also:

Buddhist symbolism, Buddhist symbolism - Early aniconic symbols, Buddhist symbolism - The 32 signs of a Great Man, and 80 Secondary Characteristics, Buddhist symbolism - The Mudras, Buddhist symbolism - The eight auspicious symbols of Tibetan & Nepali Buddhism, Buddhist symbolism - International symbols of the World Fellowship of Buddhists

Read more here: » Buddhist symbolism: Encyclopedia II - Buddhist symbolism - The 32 signs of a Great Man, and 80 Secondary Characteristics

In 1932, Buddhadasa founded Wat Suan Mokkh ("The Garden of Liberation"), a forest Dhamma Center and Buddhist temple in Chaiya, Southern Thailand dedicated to vipassana or insight meditation. Buddhadasa focused especially on anapanasati or meditation through mindfulness of breathing. Buddhadasa based his practice on extensive research of the Pali texts, the Buddha's discourses (Sutta Pitaka), and personal experiment and practice. In his later years, Buddhadasa's teachings attracted a number of foreign students to his temple. He also he ...

See also:

Buddhadasa, Buddhadasa - Early Years, Buddhadasa - Wat Suan Mokkh, Buddhadasa - Bibliography

Read more here: » Buddhadasa: Encyclopedia II - Buddhadasa - Wat Suan Mokkh

The Buddhist canon of scripture is known in Sanskrit as the Tripitaka and in Pāli as the Tipitaka. These terms literally mean "three baskets" and refers to the three main divisions of the canon, which are: The Vinaya Pitaka, containing disciplinary rules for the Sangha of Buddhist monks and nuns, as well as a range of other texts which explain why and how rules were instituted, supporting material, and doctrinal clarification. The Sutta Pitaka (Pāli; Sanskrit: Sutra Pitaka), containing disc ...

See also:

Buddhism, Buddhism - Headline text, Buddhism - What is a Buddha?, Buddhism - Origins, Buddhism - Principles of Buddhism, Buddhism - The Three Marks of Existence, Buddhism - The Four Noble Truths, Buddhism - The Noble Eightfold Path, Buddhism - Practices of Buddhism, Buddhism - Refuge in The Three Jewels, Buddhism - The Five Precepts, Buddhism - Meditation, Buddhism - Buddha-dhatu Buddha-Principle Buddha-nature, Buddhism - Other principles and practices, Buddhism - Vegetarianism, Buddhism - Buddhist religious philosophy and branches, Buddhism - Buddhism after the Buddha, Buddhism - Principal schools of Buddhist philosophy, Buddhism - Scriptures, Buddhism - Relations with other Eastern faiths, Buddhism - Buddhism in the modern world, Buddhism - Buddhism and the West, Buddhism - Buddhism, Buddhism - Related systems and religions, Buddhism - References and Links, Buddhism - References, Buddhism - Footnotes, Buddhism - External links

Read more here: » Buddhism: Encyclopedia II - Buddhism - Scriptures

Amagandha Sutta (Pali) Buddhist text (BCW 11:470-1).

(See also: Amagandha Sutta, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Maha-Parinibbana-Sutta or Suttanta (Pali) [from maha great + parinibbana complete nirvana + sutta, suttanta text, book]

The Book of the Great Decease of the Buddhist Pali canon, "one of the most authoritative of the Buddhist sacred writings" (TG 200).

A scripture of the same name of the Mahayana school of Northern Buddhism, supposed by some to be of later date, is written in Sanskrit: the Maha-paranirvana-sutra (Paradise Sutra).

(See also: Maha-Parinibbana-Sutta, Suttanta, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Anatta (Pali) (from an not + atta self, soul)

Non-self, nonegoity; a Buddhist doctrine postulating that there is no unchanging, permanent self (atta, Sanskrit atman) in the human being, in contrast to the Upanishad view that the atman or inner essence of a human being is identic with Brahman, the Supreme, which pervades and is the universe. While Gautama Buddha stresses the nonreality of self, regarding as continuous only its attributes (the five khandas; Sanskrit skandhas) which return at rebirth, there is scriptural testimony in both Southern and Northern Schools that the Buddha recognized a fundamental selfhood in the human constitution (cf ET 108-10).

In the Dhammapada, one of the most respected texts of the Southern Buddhists, we read: "The self is the master of the self (atta hi attano natho)

, for who else could be its master?" (12:160); in the Mahaparinibbana-sutta (2:33, 35): attadipa attasarana, "be ye as those who have the self (atta) as their light (diva, also translated as island); be ye as those who have the self (atta) as their refuge (sarana)

" (cf RK Dh. 12, 45). Also we find Nagarjuna stating in his commentary on the Prajna-paramita: "Sometimes the Tathagata taught that the Atman verily exists, and yet at other times he taught that the Atman does not exist" (Chinese recension of Yuan Chung).

(See also: Anatta, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

See Mahayana Sutras for a list of sutras categorised by source, without discussion. Buddhist texts - Perfection of Wisdom Texts. Deal with prajñā (wisdom or insight). Wisdom in this context means the ability to see Reality as it truly is. Do not contain an elaborate philosophical argument, but simply try to point to the true nature of reality, especially through the use of paradox. The basic premise is a radical non-dualism, in which every, and any dichotomist way of seeing things are denied: so p ...

See also:

Buddhist texts, Buddhist texts - Canonical texts, Buddhist texts - Non-canonical texts, Buddhist texts - Texts of the Nikaya Schools, Buddhist texts - Vinaya, Buddhist texts - Sutta, Buddhist texts - Abhidharma, Buddhist texts - Non-canonical texts, Buddhist texts - Mahayana texts, Buddhist texts - Perfection of Wisdom Texts, Buddhist texts - Saddharma-pundarika, Buddhist texts - Pure Land Sutras, Buddhist texts - The Vimalakirti Nirdesha Sutra, Buddhist texts - Samadhi Sutras, Buddhist texts - Confession Sutras, Buddhist texts - The Avatamsaka Sutra, Buddhist texts - Third Turning Sutras, Buddhist texts - Tathagatagarbha class sutras, Buddhist texts - Collected Sutras, Buddhist texts - Transmigration Sutras, Buddhist texts - Discipline Sutras, Buddhist texts - Sutras Devoted to Individual Figures, Buddhist texts - Proto-Mahayana Sutras, Buddhist texts - Non-canonical texts, Buddhist texts - References, Buddhist texts - Vajrayana Texts, Buddhist texts - Buddhist tantras, Buddhist texts - Other products of the Vajrayana literature

Read more here: » Buddhist texts: Encyclopedia II - Buddhist texts - Mahayana texts

Buddhist texts - Buddhist tantras. The canon of the Vajrayana schools includes a number of Nikaya-related texts from a number of the schools, as well as Mahayana sutras. However it is the specifically Vajrayana texts that most strongly characterise it. They are considered to be the word of the Buddha, and the Tibetan Canon contains translations of almost 500 tantras and over 2000 commentaries to them. The texts are typically concerned with elaborate rituals and meditations. A late Tibetan t ...

See also:

Buddhist texts, Buddhist texts - Canonical texts, Buddhist texts - Non-canonical texts, Buddhist texts - Texts of the Nikaya Schools, Buddhist texts - Vinaya, Buddhist texts - Sutta, Buddhist texts - Abhidharma, Buddhist texts - Non-canonical texts, Buddhist texts - Mahayana texts, Buddhist texts - Perfection of Wisdom Texts, Buddhist texts - Saddharma-pundarika, Buddhist texts - Pure Land Sutras, Buddhist texts - The Vimalakirti Nirdesha Sutra, Buddhist texts - Samadhi Sutras, Buddhist texts - Confession Sutras, Buddhist texts - The Avatamsaka Sutra, Buddhist texts - Third Turning Sutras, Buddhist texts - Tathagatagarbha class sutras, Buddhist texts - Collected Sutras, Buddhist texts - Transmigration Sutras, Buddhist texts - Discipline Sutras, Buddhist texts - Sutras Devoted to Individual Figures, Buddhist texts - Proto-Mahayana Sutras, Buddhist texts - Non-canonical texts, Buddhist texts - References, Buddhist texts - Vajrayana Texts, Buddhist texts - Buddhist tantras, Buddhist texts - Other products of the Vajrayana literature

Read more here: » Buddhist texts: Encyclopedia II - Buddhist texts - Vajrayana Texts

These are, in some way or other, texts associated with Gautama, the historical Buddha. Different schools, however, are not always in agreement about which texts are canonical, and the various recensions of the Buddhist Canon contain widely varying numbers and types of texts. Broadly speaking, the texts come in three types: sutras (i.e. discourses), vinaya (relating to the rules of monastic discipline), and abhidharma (analytical texts). Together these three make up what is known in Sanskrit as the Tripitaka and in Pali as the Tipitaka. Both ...

See also:

Buddhist texts, Buddhist texts - Canonical texts, Buddhist texts - Non-canonical texts, Buddhist texts - Texts of the Nikaya Schools, Buddhist texts - Vinaya, Buddhist texts - Sutta, Buddhist texts - Abhidharma, Buddhist texts - Non-canonical texts, Buddhist texts - Mahayana texts, Buddhist texts - Perfection of Wisdom Texts, Buddhist texts - Saddharma-pundarika, Buddhist texts - Pure Land Sutras, Buddhist texts - The Vimalakirti Nirdesha Sutra, Buddhist texts - Samadhi Sutras, Buddhist texts - Confession Sutras, Buddhist texts - The Avatamsaka Sutra, Buddhist texts - Third Turning Sutras, Buddhist texts - Tathagatagarbha class sutras, Buddhist texts - Collected Sutras, Buddhist texts - Transmigration Sutras, Buddhist texts - Discipline Sutras, Buddhist texts - Sutras Devoted to Individual Figures, Buddhist texts - Proto-Mahayana Sutras, Buddhist texts - Non-canonical texts, Buddhist texts - References, Buddhist texts - Vajrayana Texts, Buddhist texts - Buddhist tantras, Buddhist texts - Other products of the Vajrayana literature

Read more here: » Buddhist texts: Encyclopedia II - Buddhist texts - Canonical texts

Non or semi-canonical texts have been important from very early in Buddhism. Extensive commentaries exist in Pali for the Pali Canon and in Tibetan, Chinese and other East Asian Languages. Important examples of non-canonical texts are the Visuddhimagga, or Path of Purification, by Buddhaghosa, which is a compendium of Theravada teachings that include quotes from the Pali Canon. The Milinda Pañha, or Questions of Milinda, is a popular condensation of the Dharma in the form of a dialogue between the Buddhist sage Nāga ...

See also:

Buddhist texts, Buddhist texts - Canonical texts, Buddhist texts - Non-canonical texts, Buddhist texts - Texts of the Nikaya Schools, Buddhist texts - Vinaya, Buddhist texts - Sutta, Buddhist texts - Abhidharma, Buddhist texts - Non-canonical texts, Buddhist texts - Mahayana texts, Buddhist texts - Perfection of Wisdom Texts, Buddhist texts - Saddharma-pundarika, Buddhist texts - Pure Land Sutras, Buddhist texts - The Vimalakirti Nirdesha Sutra, Buddhist texts - Samadhi Sutras, Buddhist texts - Confession Sutras, Buddhist texts - The Avatamsaka Sutra, Buddhist texts - Third Turning Sutras, Buddhist texts - Tathagatagarbha class sutras, Buddhist texts - Collected Sutras, Buddhist texts - Transmigration Sutras, Buddhist texts - Discipline Sutras, Buddhist texts - Sutras Devoted to Individual Figures, Buddhist texts - Proto-Mahayana Sutras, Buddhist texts - Non-canonical texts, Buddhist texts - References, Buddhist texts - Vajrayana Texts, Buddhist texts - Buddhist tantras, Buddhist texts - Other products of the Vajrayana literature

Read more here: » Buddhist texts: Encyclopedia II - Buddhist texts - Non-canonical texts

There is some dispute over what to call the more conservative stratum of Buddhist schools and the texts associated with them. The most widely used term is Hinayana, but this is often seen as unsatisfactory for several reasons (see Hinayana). This article will use the phrase "Nikaya schools", which refers to the class of sutras they consider to be canonical. These sutras are sometimes referred to by members of other schools as nikayas or agamas. Although many versions of the Nikaya school texts were written in Sanskrit, the only comple ...

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Buddhist texts, Buddhist texts - Canonical texts, Buddhist texts - Non-canonical texts, Buddhist texts - Texts of the Nikaya Schools, Buddhist texts - Vinaya, Buddhist texts - Sutta, Buddhist texts - Abhidharma, Buddhist texts - Non-canonical texts, Buddhist texts - Mahayana texts, Buddhist texts - Perfection of Wisdom Texts, Buddhist texts - Saddharma-pundarika, Buddhist texts - Pure Land Sutras, Buddhist texts - The Vimalakirti Nirdesha Sutra, Buddhist texts - Samadhi Sutras, Buddhist texts - Confession Sutras, Buddhist texts - The Avatamsaka Sutra, Buddhist texts - Third Turning Sutras, Buddhist texts - Tathagatagarbha class sutras, Buddhist texts - Collected Sutras, Buddhist texts - Transmigration Sutras, Buddhist texts - Discipline Sutras, Buddhist texts - Sutras Devoted to Individual Figures, Buddhist texts - Proto-Mahayana Sutras, Buddhist texts - Non-canonical texts, Buddhist texts - References, Buddhist texts - Vajrayana Texts, Buddhist texts - Buddhist tantras, Buddhist texts - Other products of the Vajrayana literature

Read more here: » Buddhist texts: Encyclopedia II - Buddhist texts - Texts of the Nikaya Schools