The Tripitaka

This collection of holy writings is organized to include material from the Pali, Chinese, and Tibetan Canons. It does not include modern writings, which can be found in the bibliography listings. "Sutta" is the Pali word for "Sutra" and is used with all the hinayana texts listed here. They are excellent for those just beginning the path and seeking a solid foundation in the Buddha’s teachings. Some of the sources had commentary that are not included. See instructions on "Receiving the Dharma" on how to read these holy texts and to recognize the correct Dharma. Remember that the Buddha taught 84,000 dharmas for the 84,00 afflictions and that He taught so that sentient beings of varying capacities and backgrounds could understand the Dharma. Just as different medicine may be prescribed for different illnesses or at different stages in any given illness, the Buddha conveyed His great wisdom in many ways. The following works represent only a small part of the vast and wonderful texts contained in the Tripitaka, many of which have not yet been translated into the English language. Where known, the name of the translator is given. Most of those listed can be found on this website or, if there are copyright restrictions, linked to other sites or information is given on where you can purchase the translation. The translations on this site may be copied and freely distributed to make these magnificent teachings of the Buddha available to all. The translators only ask that any such republication and redistribution be made available to the public on a free and unrestricted basis and that translations and other derivative works be clearly marked as such.

There is very comprehensive Theravadan website that provides basic Buddhist terms and doctrines in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Portugese that may also be helpful. Remember that this is from the hinayana perspective so may appear to be different from what you will find elsewhere. If you read Chinese and your system supports BIG5 encoding, then you may want to check out the comprehensive sutra collections provided by the http://www.cbeta.org/index.htm.

Click for index to more complete list of Hinayana Sutras.

VINAYA (Monastic code)

Ovada Patimokkha: Early teaching of Buddha on basic rules for the Sangha.
Bhikkhuni Patimokkha--Theravada: 311 rules for nuns from the Theravadan School, translated from the Thai Tripitaka by Dr. Chatsumarn Kabilsingh.
Bhikkhuni Patimokkha--Mahasanghika: 290 rules for nuns from the Mahasanghika School, translated from the Chinese Tripitaka by Dr. Chatsumarn Kabilsingh.
Bhikkhuni Patimokkha--Mahisasaka: 380 rules for nuns from the Mahisasaka School, translated from the Chinese Tripitaka by Dr. Chatsumarn Kabilsingh.
Bhikkhuni Patimokkha--Sarvastivada: 354 rules for nuns from the Sarvastivada School, translated from the Chinese Tripitaka by Dr. Chatsumarn Kabilsingh.
Bhikkhuni Patimokkha--Dharmagupta: 348 rules for nuns from the Dharmagupta School, translated from the Chinese Tripitaka by Dr. Chatsumarn Kabilsingh.
Bhikkhuni Patimokkha--Mula-Sarvastivada: 346 rules for nuns from the Mula-Sarvastivada School, translated from the Chinese Tripitaka by Dr. Chatsumarn Kabilsingh.
Bhikkhuni Patimokkha: 311 rules for nuns translated from the Pali Tripitaka by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
Bhikkhu Patimokkha: 227 rules for monks translated from the Pali Tripitaka by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.

SUTRAS (The Buddha's Discourses)

Abhaya Sutta (To Prince Abhaya):  Discourse to a prince on right speech
Acintita Sutta or The Unconjecturable: The four questions that will cause vexation and madness if conjectured about.
Adittapariyana Sutta or The Fire Sermon: Considered comparable in importance to Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount.
Agganna Sutta: Describes the creation story of how mankind and the universe evolves at the beginning of a kalpa.
Aggi Vacchagotta Sutta or To Vacchogotta on Fire: The Buddha answers certain questions on views.
Akkosa Sutta (On Insults):  Gives the correct response to one who insults you.
Alagagaddujupama Sutta or The Simile of the Snake: The Buddha gives the simile of how to hold a snake and the use of a raft after one reaches the other shore.
Amitayurdhyana Sutra or Sutra on Contemplation or Visualization of Amitayus (Buddha of Infinite Lifespan) (Kuan-wu-liang-shou-fo-ching). Teaches meditation and visualization in the Pure Land tradition.
Anapanasati (Ananda) Sutta or Mindfulness of Breathing: Hinayana meditation manual.
Anathapindikovada Sutta or Instructions to Anathapindika: Sariputta delivers discourse to dying layman Sudatta on pain.
Anatta-lakkhana Sutta or The Discourse on the Not-self Characteristic: The self is not the five skandhas. The second discourse taught the first five monk disciples at Deer Park.
Angulimala Sutta about a notorious mass murderer who becomes a disciple of the Buddha.
Ani Sutta or The Peg: Be careful: there are many popular teachings nowadays that may sound elegant and pleasing to the ear, but they're not necessarily the Buddha's teachings. If this was so 2500 years ago how much more must it be the case today?
Arya Vajra Chedaka Nama Prajnya Paramita Mahayana Sutra or Diamond Cutter Sutra : See Vajracchedika-prajnaparamita Sutra.
Avatamsaka Sutra or The Flower Garland or Ornament Sutra (Ta-fang-kuang-fo-hua-yen-ching or Fo-tuo Ga-ye ): In the mahayana tradition this is considered the First Sermon of the Buddha after His enlightenment.  It was taught to Bodhisattvas and celestial beings. Contains the Gandavyuha, Dashabhumika, and Amitayurdhana Sutras.
Ayacana Sutta or The Request: Immediately after his Awakening, the Buddha receives a visit from Brahma Sahampati, the great king of the Brahma Heavens, who pleads with the Buddha to teach the Dhamma, for the sake of those "with little dust in their eyes."
Bahiya Sutta or About Bahiya: One who did not pester Buddha, but practiced dharma quickly and became liberated.
Bathing the Buddha: The Sutra on the Merit of Bathing the Buddha.
Bhaddekaratta Sutta or An Auspicious Day: What makes an auspicious day.
Bhadrakalpika Sutra: The Sutra of 1000 Buddhas. Describes the various Buddhas of our present Fortunate Aeon of which Shakyamuni Buddha is the fourth and Maitreya will be the fifth.
Bhaishajyaguru Sutra or Medicine Buddha Sutra or Sutra on the Merits and Original Vows of Tathágata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light (Yao-shi-Fo Ching).
Brahmajala Sutra or Brahma Net Sutra (Fan-wang-ching), Bodhisattva Precepts, Chinese Canon
Bhaya-bherava Sutta or Fear & Terror: How to live in solitude in the wilderness, completely free of fear.
Cakkavatti Sutta or The Wheel-turning Emperor (excerpt): How skillful action can result in the best kind of long life, the best kind of beauty, the best kind of happiness, and the best kind of strength.
Chiggala Sutta or The Hole: The Buddha's famous simile of the blind sea-turtle, illustrating the precious rarity of this human birth.
Cula Malunkya Sutta: The Buddha explains why he will not answer a monk's questions (Poisoned arrow).
Cula-sunnata Sutta or The Lesser Discourse on Emptiness.
Cuuladhammasamaadaana Sutta or The Shorter Discourse on Observances: Discourse on four types of experience and their results.
Dasabhumika Stutra or aThe Sutra on the Ten Stages or Grounds: Also included as the 26th chapter of the Avatamsaka Sutra. It establishes the ten stages of cultivation of a Bodhisattva.
Devadaha Sutta: At Devadaha, Ven. Sariputta explains how to introduce the Buddha's teachings to inquisitive, intelligent people.
Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta or Setting the Wheel of Dhamma in Motion at Deer Park: In the hinayana tradition this is considered the First Sermon of the Buddha after His enlightenment, taught to the five ascetics.
Dhammapada: collection of 423 short verses in the Pali Tripitaka (hinayana) taken from various teachings of the Buddha. There is also a Tibetan and Chinese version.
Diamond Sutra: See Vajracchedika-prajnaparamita Sutra. SPANISH translation.
Digha Nikaya or The Long Discourses of the Buddha: collection of many on the discourses included here and others. First section of the Pali Sutta Pitaka.
Donapaka Sutta or King Pasenadi Goes on a Diet: Advice on sliming down.
Drumsong, King of the Serpentines: Verses given by the Buddha on repaying kindness.
Fire Sermon: See Adittapariyana Sutta.
Gandavyuha Sutra or Ornaments of the Wheel Sutra : Included in the Avatamsaka Sutra. Bodhisattva Manjushri.
Ghatva Sutta or Having Killed: Anger--one thing that deserves to be killed.
Heart Sutra: The essence of the Maha Prajnaparamita Sutra that is often chanted in many Buddhist temples. SPANISH translation.
Jivaka Sutta: Discourse to Doctor Jivaka on vegetarianism.
Kaccayana Gotta Sutta: Discourse on Right View.
Kakacupama Sutta or The Parable of the Saw (excerpt):  How to avoid anger and hatred.
Kalama Sutta: Instructions given to the Kalamas on how to evaluate religious teachings.
Kamma Sutta or Action: Nature of karma.
Karandavyuha Sutra or Ornaments of the Basket sutra. Homage to the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara.
Karunapundarika Sutra or Sutra of the Lotus of Compassion: About Buddha Padmottara.
Kasi Bharadvaja Sutta: Discourse to Bharadvaja, the farmer, on how the Buddha also plows and sows.
Kevatta (Kevaddha) Sutta: This discourse explores the role of miracles as a possible basis for faith and belief and gives the reasons why the Buddha did not teach certain supernormal powers to his monks. Very clever story about the origin of the four great elements Also has description of the various virtues and sections on worldly addictions and right livelihood.
Kindada Sutta or A Giver of What: The true value of various kinds of gifts explained to a deva.
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra or Sutra of the Past Vows of Earth Store Bodhisattva (Di Zang Pu Sa Ben Yuan Jing): This is the sutra of the Bodhisattva who vowed to rescue all beings from hell. It is recited to rescue those who have passed to the lower realms.
Lankavatara Sutra (Ju-leng-ch'ieh-ching): Primary sutra of the first patriarch of Zen, Master Bodhidharma. Also basis of Yogachara School. Teaches subjective idealism based on the Buddha's enlightenment and doctrines of emptiness and mind-only.
Lohicca Sutta: A sweeping summary of the entire path of practice given to a non-Buddhist.
Lokayatika Sutta or The Cosmologist: The Oneness of all being is sometimes taught as a basic Buddhist principle, but this discourse shows that the Buddha himself rejected the idea in this discourse given to a Bhramin cosmologist. Instead the Buddha explains Dependent Origination
Lotus Sutra: See Saddharmapundarika Sutra
Maha-Cattarisaka Sutta or Sutra on the Great Forty: Sutra on how to achieve right concentration.
Maha-Nidana Sutta or The Great Causes Discourse, on the Links of Dependent Co-arising (Origination), with sections on the seven stations of consciousness and eight emancipations.  
Maha-Parinibbana Sutta or Last Days of the Buddha: Hinayana tradition.
Maha-Parinirvana Sutra (Ta-pan-nieh-p'an-ching): Last sutra taught by the Buddha while He lived in this world, mahayana tradition.
Maha Prajnaparamita Sutra or The Large Sutra on Perfect Wisdom. See famous commentary on this sutra by Maitreya Bodhisattva as composed by Dharma King Asangha in the Abhisamaya Alamkara (The Ornament of Clear Realization) .
Maha-samaya Sutta or The Great Meeting: List of those from the heavenly realms who came to pay tribute to the Buddha.
Maha-Satipatthana Sutta or the Great Frames of Reference. The Greater Discourse on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, it is the fundamental sutra on meditation.
Maha Sukhavati-vyuha Sutra or Larger Sutra of Amitayus (The Sutra on the Buddha of Eternal Life: A Description of Sukhavati, the Land of Bliss) (Wu-liang-shou-ching). The Buddha describes Sukhavati to Ananda and others.
Majjhima Nikay or The Medium Length Discourses of the Buddha. Second section of the Pali Sutta Pitaka.
Mata Sutta or Mother Sutta: It's hard to meet someone who has not been, at some time in the distant past, your mother, father, son, daughter, sister, or brother.
Medicine Buddha Sutra: See Bhaishajyaguru Sutra.
Metta Sutta or Universal Love: Important practice for developing good-will in Theravadan School.
Moggallana Sutta (Gopakamoggallana Sutta) or Sutta with Moggallana: The Buddha takes no position on the ten speculative views because he does not identify any of the six senses as "self."
Mulapariyaya Sutta or The Root Sequence: One of the most profound and difficult sutras in the Tripitaka.
Nava Sutta or The Ship:  Progress comes from development, not wishing.
Parable Sutra: A mad elephant, a tree root, a well, etc.--like the nature of samsara.
Parileyyaka Sutta or Sutta at Parileyyaka: Another teaching on dependent origination
Piyajatika Sutta (From One Who Is Dear): Discourse on how that which we love brings us suffering.
Platform Sutra of Master Hui Neng (638-715), or The Dharma Jewel Platform Sutra or The Sutra of the Sixth (Zen) Patriarch on the Pristine Orthodox Dharma (Liu-tsu-ta-shih-fa-pao-t'an-ching): Chinese Canon and origin.
Prajnaparamita Sutra or Perfection of Wisdom or Heart Sutra (Ban ruo bo luo mi duo xin jing): The essence of the vast Maha Prajnaparamita Sutras. It is often recited in Buddhist temples. SPANISH Translation.
Punnovada Sutta: Advice to Venerable Punna.
Pure Land Sutras: See Amitayurdhyana Sutra, Sukhavati-vyuha Sutra, (Fo Shuo E-Mi-Tuo Jing) or Smaller Pure Land Sutra in Praise of the Pure Land (A-mi-t'o-ching).
Ratnukuta Sutra or Jewel Heap Sutra: Develops philosohy of Middle Way and Madhyamaka. Contains Prajnaparamita and Sutra and Longer Amitabha Sutra.
Sabbasava Sutta or Getting Rid of All Cares and Troubles or Fermentations. (All the taints)
Sadhammapatirupaka Sutta or A Counterfeit of the True Dhamma Sutta: A society that fails to show respect for the Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, training, and concentration contributes to the eventual decline and disappearance of the Dhamma.
Saddharma-pundarika Sutra or Lotus Sutra (Miao-fa-lien-hua-ching): Primary text of the Tendai and Nicheran sects. Teaches the identification of the historical Buddha with the Transcendental Buddha. Includes the doctrine of "Expedient Means (upaya).
Sakka-pañha Sutta or Sakka's Questions: The deva-king, Sakka, asks the Buddha about the sources of conflict, and about the path of practice that can bring it to an end.
Sallekha Sutta or The Discourse on Effacement: How the unskillful qualities in the heart can be eradicated through meditation.
Samadhi Sutta or Concentration Sutta: Concentration practice as a way to develop discernment of the inconstancy of the six sense doors.
Samadhiraja Sutra or Royal Samadhi Sutra: Teaching on emptiness.
Samagama Sutta: Discourse of the six causes of disputes and how to settle and dispel them.
Samaññaphala Sutta or The Fruits of the Contemplative Life (Bhikkhu's Practice): Discourse for King Ajatasattu that teaches the steps on the path from the hinayana perspective.
Samdhinirmocana Sutra or Wisdom of Buddha:  Essential Questions and Direct Answers for Realizing enlightenment. Primary text of the Yogachara School.
Samyutta Nikaya or The Connected Discourses of the Buddha: the third section of the Pali Sutta Pitaka.
Sanghata Sutra or Sutra on the Pair of Monastic Assemblies (Ta ji-hui zheng-fa jing).
Satipatthana Sutta: See Maha-Satipatthana Sutta.
Sedaka Sutta or The Acrobat:  By watching out for others you watch out for yourself and vice versa.
Shurangama Sutra or Sutra of the Foremost Shurangama at the Crown of the Great Buddha; and of All the Bodhisattvas’ Myriad Practices for Cultivating and Certifying to the Complete Meaning of the Tathagata’s Secret Cause (Da Fo Ding Shou Leng Yan Jing) Also called the Heroic Gate sutra: Chinese Canon. Explains the power of meditation. Key Zen text.
Sigalovada (or Sigalaka) Sutta or The Discourse to Sigala -- The Layperson's Code of Discipline.
Silavant Sutta or Virtuous: How a meditator contemplates the five aggregates.
Srimalaidevi-simhanada Sutra or Lion's Roar of Queen Srimala (Sheng-man-shih-tzu-hou-i-ch'eng-ta-fang-pien-fang-kuang-ching).
Sukhavati-vyuha Sutra (Fo Shuo E-Mi-Tuo Jing) or Ornaments of the Realm of Bliss, or Smaller Pure Land Sutra in Praise of the Pure Land (A-mi-t'o-ching) or Buddha Speaks of Amitabha Sutra, as chanted at Hua Zang Si: The Buddha describes the Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha to Shariputra and others.
Sutra in Forty-Two Sections (Renunciation). First sutra transmitted to China.
Sutra on the Merit of Bathing the Buddha: Recited every year on the birthday of Shakyamuni Buddha.
Sutra on Understanding Definitive Truth. Transmitted by Buddha Dorje Chang.
Suvarnabhasottama Sutra or The Sutra of Golden Light: Provides guidance for how individuals may direct their actions toward purifying the mind, and generating peace through their practice. Sometimes called the "King of Sutras."
Talaputa Sutta or Talaputa the Actor: Comedians and actors take heed: making others laugh may not always be a particularly commendable occupation.
Ullambana Sutra: Repaying the kindness of parents.
Upajjhatthana Sutta or Subjects for Contemplation: Pondering impermanence and karma.
Upanisa Sutta or Discourse on Supporting Conditions: Explains dependent origination.
Vajracchedika-prajnaparamita Sutra (Vajra Sutra) or Diamond Perfection of Wisdom Sutra (Chin-kang-pan-jo-po-mi-ching) or Diamond Cutter Sutra, An Exalted Sutra of the Greater Way on the Perfection of Wisdom: Most excellent summation of the essence of the Prajnaparamita Sutras.  Also recited at Buddhist temples. Chinese Canon or Tibetan Canon. SPANISH translation.
Vajrasamadhi Sutra or The Diamond-Absorption Sutra: A discourse on the Single-Taste Absolute Reality Dharma for those in the dharma-ending age that forms the foundation for the Makhyamaka system and other teachings, given in response to questions raised by seven holy ones.
Vatthupama Sutta or The Parable of the Piece of Cloth.
Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra (Wei-mo-chieh-so-shuo-ching): Famous sutra in which basic mahayana principles are presented as a dialogue between an enlightened layman (ju-shi), Vimalakirti, and famous Buddhist figures. Tibetan Canon. Translations by Charles Luk and Burton Watson from Chinese Canon also available. SPANISH Translation.
Vitakkasanthana Sutta or The Relaxation of Thoughts: The five themes to attend to.

Abhidharma (See also Commentaries in "Index to Books" )

NOTE: All of the translations listed here are believed to be from "Free" sources and intended for maximum free distribution, but cannot be used for commerical reproduction. They are all taken from other internet locations where you may find additional translations and commentary. Wherever it was known, the name of the translator is given. Please notify Zhaxi Zhuoma Rinpoche directly if there are any misrepresentations and they will be corrected.