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The Buddhist canon of scripture is known in Sanskrit as the Tripitaka and in Pali as the Tipitaka. These terms literally mean “three baskets” and refer to the three main divisions of the canon-
Vinaya Pitaka Mahayana Nirvana Sutra
One of the greatest literary works of early Buddhism is the Dhammapada , which was placed among the smaller sayings in the first basket of sutras although it contains 423 stanzas in 26 chapters. Put together from highlights of Buddha's ethical teachings, it was in existence by the time of Emperor Ashoka in the third century BC. It begins with the idea that we are the result of our thoughts, impure or pure.
Another great literary work of the Theravada school of Buddhism is The Questions of King Milinda . The philosophical dialogue is preceded by a prophecy from the previous lives of the two individuals whereby the Buddha foretold they would have this discussion some five centuries hence.
There is also an active debate as to whether or not Tantrism was initially developed within Buddhism or Hinduism . Buddhist literature tends to predate the later Puranic Tantras, and there is some evidence to suggest that the basic structure of Tantra depends upon the Mahayana Buddhist philosophical schools.
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