# Sutta Pitaka

> set of primary Buddhist scriptures, second part of the Pāli canon

**Wikidata**: [Q757370](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q757370)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutta_Piṭaka)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/sutta-pitaka

## Summary
The **Sutta Pitaka** is the second part of the Pāli Canon, a collection of primary Buddhist scriptures. It consists of five *nikāyas* (volumes), including the *Dīgha Nikāya*, *Majjhima Nikāya*, *Saṃyutta Nikāya*, *Aṅguttara Nikāya*, and *Khuddaka Nikāya*, which contain discourses attributed to the Buddha and his disciples.

## Key Facts
- The **Sutta Pitaka** is one of the three divisions of the Pāli Tipitaka (the other two being the Vinaya Pitaka and Abhidhamma Pitaka).
- It is composed of five *nikāyas* (volumes): *Dīgha Nikāya*, *Majjhima Nikāya*, *Saṃyutta Nikāya*, *Aṅguttara Nikāya*, and *Khuddaka Nikāya*.
- The *Saṃyutta Nikāya* is the third *nikāya* and includes five *vaggas* (sections): *Sagatha-vagga*, *Nidana-vagga*, *Khandha-vagga*, *Salayatana-vagga*, and *Maha-vagga*.
- The *Khuddaka Nikaya* is the fifth and final *nikāya* in the Sutta Pitaka.
- The *Majjhima Nikāya* contains **152 sutras** of intermediate length.
- The term *nikāya* (Pāḷi for "volume") is also used to refer to monastic divisions in Theravāda Buddhism.
- The Sutta Pitaka is part of the **Pāli Canon**, a foundational text in Theravāda Buddhism.
- It is classified as a **Buddhist scripture** (instance of Q7725634).
- The Sutta Pitaka has **44 sitelinks** across Wikimedia projects.
- It is identified by multiple library and authority control numbers, including **LCCN n81091252**, **GND 4265309-0**, and **BNF 125038216**.

## FAQs
**What is the Sutta Pitaka?**
The Sutta Pitaka is the second division of the Pāli Canon, containing the core teachings of Buddhism as discourses (*suttas*) attributed to the Buddha and his disciples.

**How many nikāyas are in the Sutta Pitaka?**
There are five *nikāyas*: *Dīgha Nikāya*, *Majjhima Nikāya*, *Saṃyutta Nikāya*, *Aṅguttara Nikāya*, and *Khuddaka Nikāya*.

**What is the Saṃyutta Nikāya?**
The *Saṃyutta Nikāya* is the third *nikāya* in the Sutta Pitaka, structured into five *vaggas* (sections) covering topics like causality (*Nidana-vagga*) and aggregates (*Khandha-vagga*).

**What does "nikāya" mean?**
The term *nikāya* means "volume" in Pāḷi and refers both to the divisions of the Sutta Pitaka and to monastic lineages in Theravāda Buddhism.

**How many sutras are in the Majjhima Nikāya?**
The *Majjhima Nikāya* contains **152 sutras** of medium length, focusing on doctrinal and practical teachings.

## Why It Matters
The **Sutta Pitaka** is the cornerstone of Theravāda Buddhist doctrine, preserving the earliest recorded teachings of the Buddha. It provides the philosophical and ethical foundation for Buddhist practice, influencing meditation, ethics, and monastic discipline. As part of the Pāli Canon, it has shaped Buddhist thought for over two millennia and remains a primary source for scholars and practitioners.

## Notable For
- Being the **second division of the Pāli Canon**, alongside the Vinaya Pitaka and Abhidhamma Pitaka.
- Containing the **five nikāyas**, each with distinct thematic and structural organization.
- Including the *Majjhima Nikāya*, which features **152 sutras** of intermediate length.
- Serving as a **primary scriptural source** for Theravāda Buddhism.
- Using the term *nikāya* to denote both textual divisions and monastic lineages.

## Body
### **Structure of the Sutta Pitaka**
The Sutta Pitaka is divided into five *nikāyas* (volumes), each with a distinct focus:

1. **Dīgha Nikāya** ("Long Discourses") – Contains 34 long sutras, including foundational teachings like the *Mahāparinibbāna Sutta* (the Buddha’s final days).
2. **Majjhima Nikāya** ("Middle-Length Discourses") – Comprises **152 sutras** covering a wide range of doctrinal and practical topics.
3. **Saṃyutta Nikāya** ("Connected Discourses") – Organized into five *vaggas* (sections):
   - *Sagatha-vagga* (verses)
   - *Nidana-vagga* (causality)
   - *Khandha-vagga* (aggregates)
   - *Salayatana-vagga* (sense bases)
   - *Maha-vagga* (great section)
4. **Aṅguttara Nikāya** ("Numerical Discourses") – Structured by numerical lists (e.g., groups of one, two, three, etc.).
5. **Khuddaka Nikaya** ("Minor Collection") – The final *nikāya*, containing shorter texts, including the *Dhammapada* and *Jataka Tales*.

### **Relationship to the Pāli Canon**
The Sutta Pitaka is the **second of three divisions** in the Pāli Tipitaka ("Three Baskets"), alongside:
- **Vinaya Pitaka** (monastic rules)
- **Abhidhamma Pitaka** (philosophical analysis)

### **Terminology: Nikāya**
The word *nikāya* (Pāḷi: "volume") is used in two contexts:
- **Textual divisions** (e.g., the five *nikāyas* of the Sutta Pitaka).
- **Monastic lineages** in Theravāda Buddhism, referring to different sectarian traditions.

### **Library and Authority Control Identifiers**
The Sutta Pitaka is cataloged under multiple international library systems:
- **Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN):** n81091252
- **German National Library (GND):** 4265309-0
- **Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF):** 125038216
- **Virtual International Authority File (VIAF):** 175388901
- **Freebase ID:** /m/02ws4s

### **Connected Entities**
- **Dīgha Nikāya** – The first *nikāya*, containing long discourses.
- **Majjhima Nikāya** – The second *nikāya*, with 152 medium-length sutras.
- **Saṃyutta Nikāya** – The third *nikāya*, structured into thematic sections.
- **Khuddaka Nikaya** – The fifth and final *nikāya*, including minor texts.
- **Nikāya (general term)** – Refers to both textual volumes and monastic divisions.

### **Significance in Buddhist Tradition**
The Sutta Pitaka is the **primary source of the Buddha’s teachings** in Theravāda Buddhism. It covers:
- **Doctrinal teachings** (e.g., the Four Noble Truths, Dependent Origination).
- **Ethical guidelines** (e.g., the Five Precepts).
- **Meditation practices** (e.g., mindfulness, jhana).
- **Narratives** (e.g., past-life stories in the *Jataka Tales*).

Its preservation in Pāli ensures continuity with early Buddhist traditions, making it indispensable for both scholarly study and religious practice.

## References

1. [SuttaCentral](https://github.com/suttacentral/bilara-data/blob/published/translation/en/sujato/sutta/mn/mn72_translation-en-sujato.json)
2. works by Shimizu Toshifumi
3. [Source](https://suttacentral.net./sn44.10/en/sujato)
4. [Source](https://suttacentral.net./dn23/en/sujato)
5. [Source](https://suttacentral.net./sn12.15/en/sujato)
6. [Source](https://suttacentral.net./dn16/en/sujato)
7. [Source](https://suttacentral.net./mn86/en/sujato)
8. [Source](https://suttacentral.net./dn9/en/sujato#53.5)
9. Virtual International Authority File
10. [Source](https://lingualibre.org/wiki//Q442484)
11. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
12. BabelNet