Pali Canon

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/pali-canon

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the canonical name?Tipitaka (meaning 'Three Baskets')
2. What is the primary language?Pali
3. What is the Pali Canon and why is it important?The Pali Canon is the oldest and most complete set of Buddhist scriptures. It contains the Buddha’s teachings and guides people on how to live a good life. It is the main book for Theravada Buddhism.
4. How is the Pali Canon organized?It is split into three parts called baskets. The Vinaya Pitaka has rules for monks and nuns. The Sutta Pitaka has the Buddha’s talks. The Abhidhamma Pitaka explains the mind and reality.

Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta: The three marks of existence: impermanence, suffering, and non-self.
Eightfold Path: The Buddha's prescribed path of practice leading to liberation.
Theravada Buddhism: The 'Doctrine of the Elders,' a conservative branch of Buddhism emphasizing the Pali Canon.