Page 4 - ENG Edition Ver2

1

Chapter 1

Tipiṭaka

Introduction

Tipiṭaka is considered as the significant Buddhism scripture for Buddhist

monks, novices and Buddhist lay to study. The objective of setting up Tipiṭaka is to
enable the learners to perceive thoroughly the Buddhist Doctrine and the Discipline

(Dhamma-Vinaya) and apply them to correct practice on what the Buddha had
taught.

The word “Tipiṭaka” is the scripture that means 3 pitakas (basket, text, canon)
1
or The Three baskets, The Pali Canon .
The Tipiṭaka is described in Magadha language, being considered as a

2
language perfect in both content and alphabet . So anybody who wants to learn
Tipiṭaka texts has to begin with Magadha orthography acquisition. This is according
to linguistic principle, any language with the compilement of the Buddha Teachings

but rather the preservation of the compiled Teachings. According to the explanation

of Rehearsal written by Phra Brahmagunabhorn in “Dictionary of Buddhist Terms

(ibid) “the Later Rehearsal up to now means the meeting to investigate and ratify in

order to keep Tipiṭaka to be purest, perfect and correct.”
Since Pali language does not have alphabets, during the reign of King Asoka,

Prakrits language was transcribed with “Brahmi” alphabets. The first set of alphabets

to record Buddhist texts was “Singhalese” alphabets or Sri Lanka. Later, the
countries that believe in Buddhism have transcribed Pali texts from Tipiṭaka books

into their own alphabet systems. Now, there are many alphabetical transcription

patterns for Pali Texts; i.e., Brahmi, Devanagari, Lanna, Khmer, Thai, Mon,

Romanized, etc.

1
Dictionary of Buddhism, Phra Rajavaramuni (P.A. Payutto), published to propagate as free Dhamma,
Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya, 1985

2
The details can be studied from “The Foreword,” Tipitaka Texts, Thai Volumes,
Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya Versions, 1996