The Sutta Pitaka

Description: Test your knowledge about the Sutta Pitaka, a collection of Buddhist scriptures.
Number of Questions: 15
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What is the Sutta Pitaka?

  1. A collection of Buddhist scriptures

  2. A commentary on the Vinaya Pitaka

  3. A collection of Buddhist legends

  4. A collection of Buddhist poems


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The Sutta Pitaka is the second of the three main divisions of the Pali Canon, the sacred scriptures of Theravada Buddhism. It contains the teachings of the Buddha, as well as those of his disciples.

What is the main language of the Sutta Pitaka?

  1. Pali

  2. Sanskrit

  3. Prakrit

  4. Magadhi


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The Sutta Pitaka was originally written in Pali, a Middle Indo-Aryan language closely related to Sanskrit. It is still used as the liturgical language of Theravada Buddhism.

How many suttas are there in the Sutta Pitaka?

  1. 10,000

  2. 5,000

  3. 2,500

  4. 1,500


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The Sutta Pitaka contains approximately 5,000 suttas, or discourses, attributed to the Buddha and his disciples. These suttas cover a wide range of topics, including ethics, meditation, and the nature of reality.

What is the longest sutta in the Sutta Pitaka?

  1. The Mahaparinibbana Sutta

  2. The Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta

  3. The Anattalakkhana Sutta

  4. The Kalama Sutta


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The Mahaparinibbana Sutta is the longest sutta in the Sutta Pitaka, and it describes the final days and death of the Buddha. It is an important text for Buddhists, as it provides insights into the Buddha's teachings on death and rebirth.

What is the most important sutta in the Sutta Pitaka?

  1. The Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta

  2. The Anattalakkhana Sutta

  3. The Kalama Sutta

  4. The Mahaparinibbana Sutta


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta is considered to be the most important sutta in the Sutta Pitaka, as it contains the Buddha's first sermon after his enlightenment. In this sutta, the Buddha explains the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path, which are the foundation of Buddhist teachings.

Who is the main speaker in the Sutta Pitaka?

  1. The Buddha

  2. Ananda

  3. Sariputta

  4. Moggallana


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The main speaker in the Sutta Pitaka is the Buddha himself. The suttas are records of his teachings, as well as those of his disciples. However, the Buddha is always the primary speaker, and his teachings are considered to be authoritative.

What is the purpose of the Sutta Pitaka?

  1. To provide a record of the Buddha's teachings

  2. To provide a commentary on the Vinaya Pitaka

  3. To provide a collection of Buddhist legends

  4. To provide a collection of Buddhist poems


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The purpose of the Sutta Pitaka is to provide a record of the Buddha's teachings. It is a collection of his sermons, discourses, and instructions, as well as those of his disciples. The Sutta Pitaka is an important source of information about the Buddha's life and teachings, and it is used by Buddhists around the world to learn about and practice his teachings.

How is the Sutta Pitaka divided?

  1. Into five nikayas

  2. Into four nikayas

  3. Into three nikayas

  4. Into two nikayas


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The Sutta Pitaka is divided into five nikayas, or collections: the Digha Nikaya, the Majjhima Nikaya, the Samyutta Nikaya, the Anguttara Nikaya, and the Khuddaka Nikaya. Each nikaya contains a collection of suttas, or discourses, on a particular topic or theme.

What is the Digha Nikaya?

  1. A collection of long discourses

  2. A collection of medium-length discourses

  3. A collection of short discourses

  4. A collection of miscellaneous discourses


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The Digha Nikaya is a collection of long discourses attributed to the Buddha. It contains 34 suttas, which are among the longest and most important in the Sutta Pitaka. The suttas in the Digha Nikaya cover a wide range of topics, including ethics, meditation, and the nature of reality.

What is the Majjhima Nikaya?

  1. A collection of long discourses

  2. A collection of medium-length discourses

  3. A collection of short discourses

  4. A collection of miscellaneous discourses


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The Majjhima Nikaya is a collection of medium-length discourses attributed to the Buddha. It contains 152 suttas, which are shorter than the suttas in the Digha Nikaya but longer than the suttas in the Samyutta Nikaya and the Anguttara Nikaya. The suttas in the Majjhima Nikaya cover a wide range of topics, including ethics, meditation, and the nature of reality.

What is the Samyutta Nikaya?

  1. A collection of long discourses

  2. A collection of medium-length discourses

  3. A collection of short discourses

  4. A collection of miscellaneous discourses


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The Samyutta Nikaya is a collection of short discourses attributed to the Buddha. It contains 2,889 suttas, which are the shortest suttas in the Sutta Pitaka. The suttas in the Samyutta Nikaya are grouped together by topic, and they cover a wide range of topics, including ethics, meditation, and the nature of reality.

What is the Anguttara Nikaya?

  1. A collection of long discourses

  2. A collection of medium-length discourses

  3. A collection of short discourses

  4. A collection of miscellaneous discourses


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The Anguttara Nikaya is a collection of miscellaneous discourses attributed to the Buddha. It contains 9,557 suttas, which are arranged in eleven nipatas, or chapters. The suttas in the Anguttara Nikaya cover a wide range of topics, including ethics, meditation, and the nature of reality.

What is the Khuddaka Nikaya?

  1. A collection of long discourses

  2. A collection of medium-length discourses

  3. A collection of short discourses

  4. A collection of miscellaneous discourses


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The Khuddaka Nikaya is a collection of miscellaneous discourses attributed to the Buddha and his disciples. It contains 15 books, which cover a wide range of topics, including ethics, meditation, and the nature of reality. Some of the most important books in the Khuddaka Nikaya include the Dhammapada, the Udana, and the Itivuttaka.

When was the Sutta Pitaka compiled?

  1. In the 5th century BCE

  2. In the 4th century BCE

  3. In the 3rd century BCE

  4. In the 2nd century BCE


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The Sutta Pitaka was compiled in the 5th century BCE, shortly after the Buddha's death. It was compiled by a group of his disciples, who wanted to preserve his teachings for future generations.

Where is the Sutta Pitaka located?

  1. In Sri Lanka

  2. In India

  3. In Myanmar

  4. In Thailand


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The Sutta Pitaka is located in Sri Lanka, where it is preserved in the Pali Canon. The Pali Canon is a collection of Buddhist scriptures that was written down in the 1st century BCE. It is the oldest complete collection of Buddhist scriptures, and it is considered to be the most authoritative source of Buddhist teachings.

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