Buddhism 1.2 Religious Texts Sources of Authority

Question 1

What is the Tripitaka

Answer 1

The teachings of the Buddha committed to writing. Sometimes called Pali canon

Question 2

3 parts of the Tripitaka

Answer 2

1) Vinaya-pitaka (rules for monks and nuns)
2) Sutra-pitaka (teachings)
3) Abhidhamma-pitaka (higher explanations of psychology of the mind)

Question 3

Vinaya-pitaka in more depth

Answer 3

Mostly concerned about the rules of the monastic sangha, designed to ensure that monks and nuns live according to the ideals of material simplicity

Question 4

Adhidhamma pitaka in more depth

Answer 4

A collection of texts that give description to the nature of the mind, matter and time. Not very widely read

Question 5

Sutra pitaka in more depth

Answer 5

The largest of the three and contains the Dhammapada and the Jataka tales

Question 6

Dhammapada

Answer 6

An anthology of short ethical maxims ascribed to the historical buddha

Question 7

The lotus sutra

Answer 7

Not part of the Tripitaka because only M buddhists believed it was important enough. Contains parables but aren’t closely related enough for all Buddhists to follow

Question 8

Heart Sutra

Answer 8

Famously states “form is emptiness, emptiness is form”. This is the basic formula for the teaching on sunyata.

Question 9

How the sutra pitaka is used in religion 1

Answer 9

Prajna (wisdom or understanding) is completed by 1) Hearing or reading teachingsfrom scriptures 2) Reflection on these 3) Meditative development of the mind which matures true wisdom

Question 10

How sutra pitaka is used in religion 2

Answer 10

Paritta is chanting and it has rhythm which allows mind to flow from word to word. Best way to commit it to memory and it also helps purify the mind and develop Bodhisattva perfections