The Pāli Canon

The Pāli Canon is the literary, intellectual, and spiritual foundation of Theravāda Buddhism. According to the Theravādin tradition, the teachings of the historical Buddha were transmitted in the classical Indian language of Pāli. Shortly after the Buddha’s passing his original teachings were codified into what is traditionally referred to as the Tipiṭaka (Three Baskets), or more universally as the Pāli Canon.