Memories of the sayings of the Buddha carried down through oral tradition after he died, ca 483 B.C.E., and were compiled into collections called suttas (Pali) or sutras (Sanskrit). These collections, plus the Vinaya Pitaka (monastic rules) and Abidhamma/Aabidharma (philosophical texts) compose the Buddhist Canon.
Buddhism has two major traditions, Theraveda (school of elders) Buddhism, older and more conservative, practiced by monks in India claiming exclusive understanding of the ideas of it, and Mahayana Buddhism, a later development, practiced by lay persons. The Theraveda canon has been completely translated into English and is the focus of most scholarship in the West. There is a good summary of it in the History of Buddhist Thought, Main BL 1420 .T5 1951. Mahayana Buddhism is more popular and has the most adherents throughout the world.
Sacred Books of the Buddhists Main BQ 1138 .S23 v. 2,8,10-11,13-16,18-23,25-49 (1899-2001)
A set of books put out by the Pali Text Society in the United Kingdom. We have some of the volumes, listed below in the Theraveda Texts sub-section.
In 1986, the late Rev. Dr. Yehan Numata, the founder of BDK, established the BDK English Tripitaka Project with the goal of translating Chinese and Japanese Buddhist texts from the Taishō Shinshū Daizōkyō, the 100 volume set that is widely recognized a definitive collection of Buddhist texts. This monumental task is ongoing, and to date BDK has published nearly 60 volumes in what comprises a growing English Buddhist Canon. Literally meaning “three baskets,” tripiṭaka is a Sanskrit word indicating the Buddhist canon. The translations are available for purchase as beautifully bound books, or as free PDF downloads from our website. We have paper copies of Forest of Pearls from the Dharma Garden Main BQ 4000 .D3613 2019 v. 2-3
General Anthologies
Buddhist Scriptures Main BQ 1012 .B836 2004
Experience of Buddhism, Sources and Interpretations Main BQ 122 .S87 2009
Numerical Discourses of the Buddha, an Anthology of Suttas from the Anguttara Nikaya Main BQ 1342 .E5 T572 1999
Norton Anthology of World Religions, v. 1 Main BL 74 .N67 2014 v. 1 See pp. 725-1463
Theraveda texts
Long Discourses of the Buddha Main BQ 1292 .E53 W35 2012
Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha Main BQ 1312 .E5 N36 2009
Numerical Discourses of the Buddha, an Anthology of Suttas from the Anguttara Nikaya Main BQ 1342 .E5 T572 1999
In the Buddha's Words, an Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon Main BQ 1192 .E53 B63 2012
Connected Discourses of the Buddha, a New Translation of the Samyutta Nikaya Main BQ 1332 .B63 E5 2000b
Contain representative translations from the main collections of the Sutta Pitaka
Dhammapada, trans. and ed. by Valerie Roebuck Main BQ 1372 .E5 R64 2010
Dhammapada, the Sayings of the Buddha,, trans. and ed. by Carter and Palihawadana Main BQ 1372 .E5 C36 2008
The Pali Text Society in England publishes the Canon, called the Pali Tipitaka. Below are their volumes composing the Canon, with call numbers for the volumes M.S.U. Libraries' owns. Included also are volumes of commentaries on particular works. Researchers are advised to search the online catalog by call number for BQ 1138 .S23 where the set can be viewed volume by volume, because the Pali Text Society seems to have issued more volumes than those listed here. The list presented here is from their web site.
Pāli Title English Translation
Vinaya-piṭaka The Book of the Discipline Main BQ 1138 .S23 v. 10,11,13-15,20-21,25
Sutta-piṭaka:
Dīgha-nikāya Dialogues of the Buddha Main BQ 1138 .S223 v. 2 (lack v. 1,3)
Majjhima-nikāya Middle Length Sayings Main BL 1411 .M33 E5 v. 1,3; Main BQ 1312 .E5 H67 2013 v. 1-3
Saṃyutta-nikāya Connected Discourses of the Buddha; The Book of Kindred Sayings Main BL 1411 .S28 E5 v. 1-3,5 (lack v. 4) and BQ 1332 .B63 E5 2000b
Aṅguttara-nikāya The Book of Gradual Sayings 5v. on order
Khuddaka-nikāya:
Khuddakapāṭha The Minor Readings Main BQ 1138 .S23 v. 26?
Dhammapada Word of the Doctrine, Minor Anthologies I Main BQ 1138 .S23 v. 8
Udāna Verses of Uplift; The Udāna Main BQ 1138 .S23 v. 8,42-43,45
Itivuttaka Itivuttaka (translation); As It Was Said Main BQ 1138 .S23 v. 8,48; PK 4591 .I8 1908, 1948
Suttanipāta Group of Discourses, 2nd ed.; The Rhinoceros Horn (paperback) Main BQ 1138 .S23 v. 15
Vimānavatthu Stories of the Mansions Main BQ 1138 .S23 v. 31,35
Petavatthu Stories of the Departed Main BQ 1138 .S23 v. 31,34
Theragāthā Elders' Verses Vol. I; Psalms of the Brethren; Poems of Early Buddhist Monks (paperback)
Therīgāthā Elders' Verses Vol. II; Psalms of the Sisters; Poems of Early Buddhist Nuns (paperback) Main BQ 1138 .S23 v. 47
Jātaka Stories of the Buddha's Former Birth Main BQ 1462 .E5 c6 1995 v. 1-6 and Index, 26, 38-39 (also online)
Niddesa No PTS translation yet available
Paṭisambhidāmagga The Path of Discrimination No PTS Translation yet available
Apadāna No PTS translation yet available
Buddhavaṃsa The Chronicle of the Buddhas Main BQ 1138 .S23 v. 33
Cariyāpiṭaka The Basket of Conduct Main BQ 1138 .S23 v. 31
Abhidhamma-piṭaka:
Dhammasaṅgaṇī Buddhist Psychological Ethics Main BQ 2502 .E5 1975 (also online)
Vibhaṅga The Book of Analysis Main BQ 1172 .E5 T45 2010
Dhātukathā Discourse on Elements Main BQ 2522 .E5 N37 2012
Puggalapaññatti Designation of Human Types Main BQ 2532 .E5 L38 2011
Kathāvatthu Points of Controversy on order
Yamaka No PTS translation yet available
Tikapaṭṭhāna Conditional Relations Main BQ 1172 .E5 N37 2010 v. 1-2; v. 3 still on order?
Dukapaṭṭhāna No PTS translation yet available
Mahayana Texts
Mahayana literature is extensive and exists in several languages. Here are some English language works, organized by common genres, themes, and traditions of Buddhism.
Mahayana Buddhism, the Doctrinal Foundations, 2nd ed. Main BQ 7405 .W55 2009
***Perfection of Wisdom (a major, central idea of Buddhism)***
Perfection of Wisdom, the Short Prajnaparamita Texts Main BQ 1882 .E5 C66 2002
Astasahasrika Prajnaparamita [The Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Slokas] Man BQ 1912 .E5 C66 1970
Buddhist Wisdom Books, Containing the Diamond Sutra and the Heart Sutra Main BL 1411 .V3 E53
Large Sutra on Perfect Wisdom, with the Divisions of the Abhisamayalankara Main BQ 1952 .E5 C66
Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines and its Verse Summary Main BL 1410 .P4
Prajnaparamita Literature Remote Storage B BL 1411 .P7 C6
Short Prajnaparamita Texts Main BQ 1882 .E5 C66 1973
Diamond Sutra, Transforming the Way We Perceive the World Main BQ 1997 .M8 2000
Flower Ornament Scripture, a Translation of the Avatamsaka Sutra, Volume 1 Main BQ 1622 .E5 T74 1985 v. 1
***Forest Vocation (concerns seculsion in the forest to achieve enlightenment)***
Few Good Men: the Bodhisattva Path According to the Inquiry of Ugra Main BQ 2240 .U473 N37 2003
***Change of Sex (a young woman arguing with a male bodhisattva changes sex to make her points)***
Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti: a Mahayana Scripture Main BQ 2212 .E5 T47
***Pure Land, Lotus, Tibetan and Zen Buddhism (popular in Japan)***
Land of Bliss, the Paradise of the Buddha of Measureless Light Main BQ 2012 .E5 G66 1996
Studies in the Literature of the Great Vehicle: Three Mahayana Buddhist Texts Main BQ 1617 .S78 1989
Lotus Sutra (Oxford University Press)
Lotus Sutra: a Contemporary Translation of a Buddhist Classic (Wisdom Publications)
Lotus Sutra (Columbia University Press) Main and SPC BQ 2052 .E5 W38 1993
Lotus Sutra: the Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma Main BQ 2052 .E5 K85 2012
Record of Transmitting the Light, Zen Master Keizan's Denkoroku Main BQ 9415 .K4513 2003
Original Face: an Anthology of Rinzai Zen Main BQ 9366 .O74
Dream Conversations on Buddhism and Zen Main BQ 9268 .M8513 1996
Life and Teaching of Naropa Main BL 1373 .N3 G813
Supreme Source, the Fundamental Tantra of the Dzogchen Semde Main BQ 2180 .S257 N36 1999
Life and Teachings of Tsong-khapa Main BQ 7950 .T753 E5 1982
Tibetan Book of the Dead, as Popularly known in the West
Tsong Khapa's Speech of Gold in the Essence of True Eloquence Main BQ 7950 .T754 L4313 1984
Clear Differentiation of the Three Codes : Essential Distinctions Among the Individual Liberation, Great Vehicle, and Tantric Systems Main BQ 6135 .S22513 2002
Ordinary Wisdom : Sakya Pandita's Treasury of Good Advice Main PL 3748 .S2 S813 2000
Ethics for the New Millenium (by The Dalai Lama) Main BJ 1012 .B74 1999
Treasury of the True Dharma Eye Zen Master Dogen's Shobo Genzo Main BQ 9449 .D654 .S53223 2012
This section has relied heavily upon an article in RUSQ, v. 52#1 by Kelly Myer Polacek and Wayne Bivens-Tatum titled “Sacred Books in English Translation.”
