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Founded in India around 563-483 BCE by Siddhattha Gotama, Buddhism is one of the oldest and largest religious traditions of the world. After his enlightenment at the age of 35, the founder of the religion was rarely referred to by his name, but as the Buddha, the Awakened One, or the Tathagata (the Thus-gone), one who has gone along and completed the way to Ultimate Truth through his own efforts. Before the Buddha died at the age of 80, a community of monks and nuns, and a large group of lay followers, had emerged through his dedicated mission. His 45 years of leadership saw Buddhism grow strong in several cities of northern India and his large body of teachings memorised in various local dialects.
A few hundred years after the death of the Buddha, the religion spread peacefully into most countries in Asia. Although it amalgamated with a variety of native cultures, it maintained its spiritual identity. After 300 years of transmission by oral tradition, the teachings of the Buddha were finally written down on palm leaves, and these manuscripts replaced the word-of-mouth authority. These texts became the core of Buddhist practice for both ordained and lay people. Manuscripts that had been scattered in different parts of India were collected and classified systematically in the libraries of monastic centres across the Indian subcontinent.
By the end of the 12th century CE, Buddhism had been firmly established in Asian cultures and civilisations. The "Buddhisms" of different cultures are diverse, but Buddhism retains its identity through the largest body of canonical literature in the world, which gradually became known as the Tipitaka. Literally, Tipitaka means "three baskets", the name deriving from the canon's historical development: the manuscripts were put together collectively in three baskets. Vinaya Pitaka, the first basket, is the code of monastic conduct for monks and nuns and also records the biography of the Buddha. Sutta Pitaka, the second basket, is the collection of sayings of the Buddha and his outstanding disciples, classified according to length. Abhidhamma Pitaka, the third basket, is the Buddhist doctrine of the nature of mind, body, human personality, karma (actions) and nirvana (emancipation from greed, hate and delusion), plus some early history of the Buddhist community in India.
The...