The Tipitaka (Pali ti, "three," + pitaka, "baskets"), or Pali Canon, is the collection of primary Pali language texts which form the doctrinal foundation of Theravada Buddhism.

The three baskets are:

1. Vinaya Pitaka (The Code of Ethics)

2. Sutta Pitaka (Discourses of the Buddha)

   This is grouped into five collections (nikayas):

   • Digha Nikaya -- the "long collection"
   • Majjhima Nikaya -- the "middle-length collection"
   • Samyutta Nikaya -- the "grouped collection"
   • Anguttara Nikaya -- the "further-factored collection"
   • Khuddaka Nikaya -- the "collection of little texts"

3. Abhidhamma Pitaka (Buddhist Metaphysics)

For an overview of the various Buddhist texts, go to:
accesstoinsight.org/canon
buddhanet.net
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_texts.

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