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Classification or Structure of Tipiṭaka (Scriptures of the Pali Canon)

The definition in general of Tipiṭaka is “The scripture compiling the Buddha

Teachings (including the original stories about Buddhism) in forms of 3 sets:
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Vinayapiṭaka, Suttantapiṭaka, and Abhidhammapiṭaka . In Thailand, Tipiṭaka printed
in Thai alphabets and in Romanized alphabets are arranged in 45 volumes.

The 45 volumes of Tipiṭaka printed in Thai alphabets, are classified in

threefolds:
1. Vinayapiṭaka (involves monastic rules, training rules for monks and female

monks) are divided in 3 categories in 5 religious books, printed in 8

volumes.

2. Suttantapiṭaka (containing suta, compilement of the Buddha and senior

monks’ explanation of dhamma that were adaptively given to suit
particular individuals and occasions) are divided into 5 collections, printed

in 25 volumes.

3. Abhidhammapiṭaka (compilation of the Buddha words, the quintessence
of the Doctrine in purely academic terms, without reference to individuals

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and events) are divided into 7 texts, published in 12 volumes .
In Phra Brahmagunabhorn (P.A. Payutto)’s book “The Pali Canon: What a

Buddhist Must Know” p.p. 33, the structure and classification lay out of Tipiṭaka are

shown in the following diagram:

Pariyatti (Study)

Paṭivedha Learning
(Penetration, Process Paṭipatti
Realization) (Practice)

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Dictionary of Buddhist Terms, Phra Brahmagunabhorn, p.p.111, 2015
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The explanation in details is available in “Dictionary of Buddhism,” Phra Brahmagunabhorn (P.A.
Payutto), 2015, p.p.88 and in “Dictionary of Buddhist Term,” ibid, pp.111