Tripitaka refers to the traditional Buddhist scriptures collectively known as the Pali Canon in the Theravada tradition, or a broader collection of sutras and commentaries in various Buddhist schools. It denotes a complete sacred text, typically rendered as a set of three baskets or sections (Tripiṭaka) containing rules, discourses, and the commentary. The term is used in scholarly and religious contexts to discuss canonical writings and their organization.
"The monk recited passages from the Tripitaka during the morning sermon."
"Scholars compared translations of the Tripitaka to understand doctrinal variations."
"The university library holds several volumes of the Tripitaka in multiple languages."
"During the festival, students presented readings from the Tripitaka to the temple congregation."
Tripiṭaka is a compound from Sanskrit and Pali: tri- (three) + piṭaka (basket). The term reflects the ancient Buddhist tri-pitaka framework (Tipiṭaka in Pali) that organizes scriptures into three “baskets”: the Vinaya Pitaka (monastic rules), the Sutta Pitaka (discourses), and the Abhidhamma Pitaka (scholastic treatises). The root piṭaka itself derives from a word meaning container or basket, suggesting collected writings stored apart from other texts. The usage of Tripiṭaka dates back to early Buddhist canons and was transmitted through Buddhist scholastic traditions in India, Sri Lanka, and later East Asia. In English scholarship, Tripitaka appeared in modern transcriptions from Pali/Sanskrit texts in the 19th and 20th centuries as scholars framed the term to denote the complete collection, with capitalized form to reflect its sacred status. Over time, Tripitaka has become the standard reference in academic and religious contexts for the canonical corpus of Theravada and, by extension, East Asian Buddhist traditions that follow the tripartite structure. The pronunciation and transliteration have varied by language, but the core meaning remains tied to a tripartite canonical collection.
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Words that rhyme with "Tripitaka"
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Pronounce as tri-PI-ta-ka with the primary stress on the second syllable: /ˌtrɪpɪˈtækə/. The sequence begins with a light 'tri' onset, then a clear 'pi' syllable, a stressed 'tak' with a short 'a' as in 'cat', and a soft final 'ka'. Mouth position: start with the tongue tip near the alveolar ridge for the initial 'tr', release with a small puff for the 'p', then unimpaired vowels. IPA: US /ˌtrɪpɪˈtækə/, UK /ˌtrɪpɪˈtækə/, AU /ˌtrɪpɪˈtækə/.”,
Common errors include placing unexpected emphasis on the first or third syllable (e.g., /ˌtrɪˈpɪtəkə/), mispronouncing the middle syllable as 'ti-TAH-ka' or dragging the final -ka. Correct by maintaining primary stress on the second syllable: tri-PI-ta-ka, with a crisp /t/ and a short /a/ in 'ta'. Ensure the initial cluster 'tri' doesn’t become a heavy consonant block; keep the 'p' release clean and the final -ka short and unstressed.
US/UK/AU all share the primary stress on the second syllable, but vowel quality differs slightly: US often has a fronted /ɪ/ in the first two syllables and a slightly reduced final vowel, while UK maintains a more clipped /ɪ/ in the second syllable. Australian pronunciation tends toward a broader, slightly centralized vowel in the first syllable and a more breathy final /ə/ in some speakers. Overall, /ˌtrɪpɪˈtækə/ remains consistent, with minor vowels suggesting accent.
Three factors make it tricky: the multi-syllabic rhythm with emphasis on the second syllable, the clipped short vowels in the mid syllable, and the final unstressed -ka that can blur in rapid speech. Beginners often compress the second and third syllables or misplace the stress. Focus on the three-syllable cadence, keep the middle syllable /pɪ/ light, and articulate the final /kə/ crisply to avoid a dull ending.
A distinctive feature is the crisp, non-syllabic 'triangle' of consonants around the /p/ and /t/—avoid a sluggish release. Ensure the /p/ is a clean voiceless stop, followed by a quick /ɪ/ vowel, then the stressed /tæ/ with tense jaw. The final /kə/ should be a light, almost unstressed schwa-like sound, not a full syllabic 'ka'.
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