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Q82 (CDS-II/2014) History & Culture › Culture, Literature, Religion & Philosophy › Buddhist doctrine and sects Answer Verified

Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Early Buddhist literature is generally composed of the canonical text. 2. The Buddhist schools classify their canonical literature as only the Pitakas. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Result
Your answer: —  Â·  Correct: A
Explanation

Early Buddhist literature is primarily composed of canonical texts known as the Tripitakas (Three Baskets), which were compiled in Pali and include the Vinaya, Sutta, and Abhidhamma Pitakas [2]. These texts represent the core teachings and monastic rules established during the early councils. While the Tripitaka is the traditional term for the collection of scriptures, Buddhist schools do not classify their canonical literature as 'only' the Pitakas. For instance, some schools include the Agamas as parallel canonical texts [3]. Furthermore, certain traditions accept both the Sutra (words of Buddha) and Sastra (authoritative treatises/commentaries) as part of their live authoritative tradition, indicating a more complex classification than just the three Pitakas. Additionally, regional chronicles like the Mahavamsa and Dipavamsa, while significant, are often categorized as non-canonical or post-canonical literature [2].

Sources

  1. [1] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 3: Rise of Territorial Kingdoms and New Religious Sects > Buddhist Literature > p. 42
  2. [2] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings > How Buddhist texts were prepared and preserved > p. 86
  3. [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Buddhist_texts
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