These are the hinayana and Mahayana texts which are the words of the Buddha. These are often contrasted with the tantras, which are the Buddha’s vajrayana teachings, and the shastras, which are commentaries on the words of the Buddha.( Back to the top)
(Skt), sutta Short sentences or aphorisms which facilitate easier memory of the essential tenet of teaching. (literally, suture).
scripture; recorded teaching of the Buddha.
The teachings of Buddha that are open to everyone to practice without the need for empowerment.
A buddhist scriptural text purporting to present a narrative of a teaching given on a particular occasion by the buddha or sanctioned explicitly by the buddha. The sutras make up one section of the three sectioned canon ( Tripitaka ). The other two are the monastic and ethical code ( vinaya ) and the body of canonized exegesis abhidharma .
Sutta Short sayings or verses relating to various rituals, or encapsulating profound philosophical meanings.
Scriptural work in the form aphorisms
These are basically written teachings, such as the Lotus Sutra or the Karma Sutra.
In Theravada, a historical discourse of the Buddha as passed down by oral tradition and ultimately committed to writing (the Suttapitaka was not actually compiled in written form until circa 80 B.C.E., around the same time as the earliest Mahayana sutras were set down in writing). In Mahayana, the set of canonical sutras is enlarged to include some nonhistorical sermons -- the Heart Sutra, the Lotus Sutra, etc.
a narrative discourse of the Buddha, in which ideas like the Four Noble Truths are examined and then explained
a written record of lectures and conversation between Buddha and his students
(Skt. = Tib. do) Text claiming to present teachings given by the historical Buddha in his own words.
derived from the Pali word sutta, sutra is used to describe the written Buddhist scriptures of the Buddha's oral teachings.
(Sanskrit) Discourse or section of teachings
In Buddhism, a text embodying the words of the Buddha.
The Sanskrit term (Pali sutta) for ascripture, recording the discourses of Buddha and hisdisciples.
Sacred text, especially a sermon of the Buddha.
The teaching discourses of the Buddhist canon, most are presented as the words of the historic Buddha.
The teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha: Sravakabuddhayana; Pratyekabuddhayana; and Boddhisattvabuddhayana. Known in the New Translation Schools as the Hinayana and Mahayana.
Texts written from the lectures of Buddha.
In theory (but not always), a written compilation of a section of Shakyamuni's direct oral preachings.
Sanskrit; a discourse attributed to the Buddha; sutras comprise the second part of the Buddhist canon, or Tripitaka; they traditionally begin with the phrase "Thus have I heard. . . " and are believed to have been written down by the Buddha's disciple Ananda one hundred years after his death.
Teachings by the Buddha, initially given verbally, later compiled, and written down by the Buddha's students; as well as teachings by bodhisattvas.
(Sanskrit): Buddhist scriptures, consisting of discourses by the Buddha and his disciples.
(Skt.): Discourse/ speech etc. of the BUDDHA, excluding teachings on TANTRA.
A discourse of Shakyamuni Buddha; the pre-tantric division of Buddhist teachings stressing the cultivation of bodhicitta and the practice of the six perfections. See also Paramitayana.
( Skt.): The concise teachings given by the Buddha Shakyamuni. Sutras are one of the tripitaka of the Buddhist canon.
(Skt); mdo (Tib). Discourses taught by the Buddha to his disciples. These were compiled by Ananda, after the Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana. Sutras may be categorised as belonging to the first, second or third turning of the wheel of Dharma.
a textual discourse purportedly spoken by the Buddha or, following his death, one of his disciples.