Pali Canon/Addendum

This addendum will give a detailed account of the Pali Canon.

The usual arrangement of the Canon is as follows:

1. Vinayapiṭaka
2. Sutta- or Suttantapiṭaka
   1. Dīghanikāya
   2. Majjhimanikāya
   3. Saṃyuttanikāya
   4. Aṅguttaranikāya
   5. Khuddakanikāya
3. Abhidhammapiṭaka

The term piṭaka appears in early inscriptions, but the earliest known references to three piṭakas are in the Parivāra and other sources of similar age.

An alternative arrangement is in nikāyas, with the Vinaya and Abhidhamma included in the Khuddakanikāya, either before or after the Sutta parts. This arrangement is used in the Burmese translation. The inscriptions approved by the Fifth Council are arranged Vinaya, Abhidhamma, Sutta, while the Sixth Council recited the texts in the order listed above except for placing the Khuddakanikāya at the end.

Abbreviations

• B: 6th Council (Burma) edition; volume numbers are taken from the imprints pages of the 2008 Latin-script issue
• C: Buddha Jayanti (Ceylon/Sri Lanka) edition
• E: English/European edition, PTS
• K: Khmer edition
• N: Nalanda Nagari edition
• PTS: Pali Text Society
• S: Siamese edition (in fact a number of Siamese/Thai editions, though not all, seem to have the same volumes)

Vinayapiṭaka

B1-5; C1-6; K1-13; S1-8; EN 5 volumes.

English translation: The Book of the Discipline, tr I. B. Horner, 1938-1966, 6 volumes, PTS.

This division of the Canon is primarily concerned with the rules of monastic discipline, though the stories of the origins of the rules sometimes seem to take on a life of their own.

Western scholarship, based on some secondary accounts in the tradition, commonly divides the Vinaya into three parts:

1. Suttavibhaṅga
2. Khandhaka
3. Parivāra

However, the title pages of the various editions usually do not use this division explicitly. Instead, BC divide as

1. Pārājika
2. Pācittiya
3. Mahāvagga
4. Cūḷa- (B) or Culla- (C) -vagga
5. Parivāra

while KS have

1. Mahāvibhaṅga
2. Bhikkhunīvibhaṅga
3. Mahāvagga
4. Cullavagga
5. Parivāra

In each case 1 and 2 constitute the Suttavibhaṅga, 3 and 4 the Khandhaka. The editor of E chose to interchange these two parts, and N does likewise.

The Western division is one of literary entities.

The term vinaya is frequent in the early texts, but the earliest appearance of the name Vinayapiṭaka is in the Parivāra. According to Professor von Hinüber, tentatively supported by Dr Gethin (President of the PTS), the Vinaya is, on the whole, later than the first four nikāyas of the Suttapiṭaka.

Suttavibhaṅga

This is a commentary on the Pātimokkha, a text not actually included in the Canon as such, though most of it appears embedded in this commentary. (It appears in the Burmese and Sinhalese editions of the commentaries.) This consists of a set of rules for monks and nuns. The division into Mahāvibhaṅga and Bhikkhunīvibhaṅga follows the division of the Pātimokkha into monks' and nuns' sections. Mahā means great, this division being substantially longer. Bhikkhunī means nun.

Each of these in turn is divided into groups of different types of offences, with the most serious first. The first of these is called Pārājika, and the first in the second volume of BC is called Pācittiya, so the volume titles used in BC are artificial incipit-type titles. The whole of the nuns' division is in the second volume.

The pattern of the commentary on each rule is to start with an introductory story telling how the Buddha came to lay down the rule, and then to follow it with a detailed explanation. Scholars disagree on whether the rules go back to the Buddha himself, but agree that the rest of the material is later. The earliest appearance of the name Suttavibhaṅga is in the Khandhaka's account of the Second Council.

Khandhaka

This is arranged topically in 22 khandhakas. The division into vaggas is common in the Canon. They are usually groups of 10 or so.

Each khandhaka presents rules on a particular topic, embedded in a single narrative framework, explaining as above how the Buddha came to lay down the rules, except for the last two. These give narratives of the first two Buddhist councils.

The earliest reference to this book is in the Parivāra.

Parivāra

This book mostly abandons the narrative framework, analysing the vinaya in many ways.

It is first mentioned in the Dīpavaṃsa (4th century AD). It includes a long list of Vinaya teachers in Ceylon, starting from the introduction of Buddhism there around 250 BC, so even fundamentalists accept that, in its present form at least, it must be late. Scholars tend to give dates around the first century AD. BE have a set of verses at the end that seem to name the author as Dīpa or Dīpanāma. The commentaries say this text was recited at the First Council, shortly after the Buddha's death; the subcommentaries add that the list of Vinaya teachers was added by the Fourth Council in the last century BC.

Sutta- or Suttantapiṭaka

B6-28; C7-40; K14-77; S9-33

Sutta- is used by Western scholars and N. BCKS have Suttanta-.

Suttas as a genre are frequently mentioned in the early texts, but the earliest mention of a Sutt(ant)apiṭaka is in the Parivāra.

This is divided into five as listed above. The first four are fairly similar collections, mainly prose, with a narrative framework similar in style to those in the Vinaya above.

Early inscriptions and the Khandhaka's account of the First Council mention five nikāyas, but the first explicit listing is in the commentaries (5th century AD).

On the relation between the first four nikāyas and unspecified early verse books in the Khuddakanikāya, on the one hand, and the original teaching of the Buddha, on the other, Professor Lambert Schmithausen, followed by other scholars, identified three different approaches among scholars. The first of these argues that at least large parts of these texts show such coherence they must represent in substance the work of a single mind, that of the Buddha himself.

The second argues that there is very little hard evidence so very little can be known.

The third avoids such generalizations and concentrates on detailed examination of particular points.

Professor Warder considers that each of the five was expanded over time by the addition of new suttas, and that the order of authenticity is the canonical order. That is, he considers the Dīgha has the least later material. The late Professor Hirakawa, in contrast, held that suttas started short, as in the Saṃyutta and Aṅguttara, and were later expanded and combined. L. S. Cousins, meanwhile, pictures early suttas as improvised within a pattern of teaching and only gradually becoming fixed.

Dīghanikāya

B6-8; C7-9; S9-11; EN also 3 volumes

Translations

• Dialogues of the Buddha, tr T. W. and C. A. F. Rhys Davids, 1899-1921, 3 volumes, Pali Text Society[1]
• Thus Have I Heard: the Long Discourses of the Buddha, tr Maurice Walshe, Wisdom Pubns, 1987; later reissued under the original subtitle; ISBN 0-86171-103-3

Consists of 34 "long" (dīgha) discourses (BCNS sutta; E has suttanta for some). This length classification is not precise: the shortest of these are shorter than the longest below, and so on.

It is first mentioned in the Milindapañha.

Majjhimanikāya

B9-11; C10-12; S12-14; EN also 3 volumes

Translations:

• Lord Chalmers (trans.), Further Dialogues of the Buddha, 1926-7, 2 volumes, Ann Arbor: Books on Demand, University of Michigan.
• I.B. Horner (trans.), The Book of Middle Length Sayings, 1954-9, 3 volumes, Bristol: Pali Text Society.
• David W. Evans (trans.), Discourses of Gotama Buddha: Middle Collection, 1991, Janus Pubns. "Translation in an abridged form ... just about one third the size of Horner's translation, but with well over 90% of the significant content"
• Bhikkhu Nanamoli and Bhikkhu Bodhi (trans.), The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Majjhima Nikaya, 1995, Somerville: Wisdom Publications ISBN 0-86171-072-X. The Pali Text Society also issues a private edition of this for members only, which is its preferred translation. review

152 medium-length (majjhima) discourses.

It is first mentioned in the Peṭakopadesa and Milindapañha.

Saṃyuttanikāya

B12-14; C13-17; S15-19; E 5 volumes; N 4 volumes

Translations:

• The Book of the Kindred Sayings, tr C. A. F. Rhys Davids & F. L. Woodward, 1917-30, 5 volumes, Pali Text Society[2], Bristol
• The Connected Discourses of the Buddha, tr Bhikkhu Bodhi, 2000, Wisdom Publications, Somerville, MA, ISBN 0-86171-331-1; the Pali Text Society also issues a private edition of this for members only, which is its preferred translation

This book consists of discourses grouped together by topic, person or whatever. The correct number of such saṃyuttas seems to be 56 as in BEN. There are some anomalies in the headings of CS.

Because of the abbreviated way parts of the text are written, the total number of suttas is unclear. The editor of the Pali Text Society edition of the text made it 2889, Bodhi in his translation has 2904, while the commentaries give 7762. A study by Dr Rupert Gethin gives the totals for the Burmese and Sinhalese editions as 2854 and 7656, respectively, and his own calculation as 6696; he also says the total in the Thai edition is unclear.

It is first explicitly mentioned in the Milindapañha, with the shorter form Saṃyutta appearing in the Peṭakopadesa.

Aṅguttaranikāya

B15-17; C18-23; S20-24; E 5 volumes; N 4 volumes

Translations:

• The Book of the Gradual Sayings, tr F. L. Woodward & E. M. Hare, 1932-6, 5 volumes, Pali Text Society[3], Bristol
• The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha, tr Bhikkhu Bodhi, 2012, Wisdom Publications; the Pali Text Society issues a private edition of this translation, which is its preferred version

This book comprises thousands of short discourses, like the previous one, but this time arranged numerically, by the numbers of items listed, from 1 to 11. The commentaries give a figure of 9557 suttas, E about 2344, while Bodhi makes it 8122.

It is first explicitly mentioned in the commentaries, but the alternative name Ekuttaranikāya appears in the Milindapañha, with the shorter form Aṅguttara appearing in the Peṭakopadesa.

Khuddakanikāya

B18-28; C24-40; S25-33

The contents of this collection vary between editions. B has the following, in various orders in different printings:

1. Khuddakapāṭha
2. Dhammapada
3. Udāna
4. Itivuttaka
5. Suttanipāta
6. Vimānavatthu
7. Petavatthu
8. Theragāthā
9. Therīgāthā
10. Jātaka
11. Niddesa
12. Paṭisambhidāmagga
13. Apadāna
14. Buddhavaṃsa
15. Cariyāpiṭaka
16. Nettippakaraṇa
17. Peṭakopadesa
18. Milindapañha

C has 1-17; EKNS have 1-15. The first Siamese edition has only 1-5, 11, 12. The Burmese translation has 1-9, 12-15 and 18.

It is first explicitly mentioned in the commentaries, but the Milindapañha mentions Khuddaka reciters.

Khuddakapāṭha

In B18, C24, S25

This consists of 9 short texts in prose or verse.

Translations:

• Tr R. C. Childers, in Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, 1869
• Tr F. L. Woodward, in Some Sayings of the Buddha, 1925
• "The text of the minor sayings", in Minor Anthologies of the Pali Canon, volume I, tr C. A. F. Rhys Davids, 1931, Pali Text Society[4], out of print (also out of copyright)
• "The minor readings", in 1 volume with "The illustrator of ultimate meaning", its commentary, tr Nanamoli, 1960, Pali Text Society, Bristol
• In Handful of Leaves (Vol. 4), tr Thanissaro Bhikkhu, Sati Center for Buddhist Studies, Santa Cruz, 2003

Professor Norman tentatively argues this is the latest text in this nikaya. Its first apparent mention is in the 5th-century commentaries, but a Chinese translation of one of them made in 489 omits it, so it may be a later interpolation.

Dhammapada

In B18, C24, S25

There are about 80 English translations. Here are a few:

• Tr F. Max Müller, in Buddhist Parables, by E. W. Burlinghame, 1869; reprinted in Sacred Books of the East, volume X, Clarendon/Oxford, 1881; reprinted in Buddhism, by Clarence Hamilton; reprinted separately by Watkins, 2006; reprinted 2008 by Red and Black Publishers, St Petersburg, Florida, ISBN 978-1-934941-03-4; revised Jack Maguire, SkyLight Pubns, Woodstock, Vermont, 2002: the first English translation (a Latin translation by V. Fausbøll had appeared in 1855)
• Tr Narada, John Murray, London, 1954; a traditional Theravada version
• Tr Buddharakkhita, Maha Bodhi Society, Bangalore, 1959; 4th edn, Buddhist Publication Society, Kandy, Sri Lanka, 1996; includes Pali text; another traditional one
• The Word of the Doctrine, tr K. R. Norman, 1997, Pali Text Society, Bristol

423 verses in 26 chapters.

Traditionally ascribed to the Buddha. Professor Warder, on the basis of metrical analysis, gives an average date of early 3rd century BC. Some scholars place it earlier. It is first mentioned in the Milindapañha.

Udāna

In B18, C24, S25

Translations:

• Tr Major-General D. M. Strong, 1902
• "Verses of uplift", in Minor Anthologies of the Pali Canon, volume II, tr F. L. Woodward, 1935, Pali Text Society[5], Bristol
• Tr John D. Ireland, Buddhist Publication Society, Kandy, Sri Lanka, 1990; later reprinted in 1 volume with his translation of the Itivuttaka
• Tr Peter Masefield, 1994, Pali Text Society, Bristol; the PTS's preferred translation; its declared aim is to translate in accordance with the commentary's interpretation; later reprinted in 1 volume with his translation of the Itivuttaka

Consists of 80 narratives in sutta style leading up to the udānas proper, short passages nearly all in verse.

A genre by this name is mentioned in the early texts, but the first clear reference to it as a book is in the commentaries.

Itivuttaka

In B18, C24, S25

Translations:

• Sayings of Buddha, tr J. H. Moore, Columbia University Press, 1908
• "As it was said", in Minor Anthologies of the Pali Canon, volume II, tr F. L. Woodward, 1935, Pali Text Society[6], Bristol
• Tr John D. Ireland, Buddhist Publication Society, Kandy, Sri Lanka, 1991; later reprinted in 1 volume with his translation of the Udana
• Tr Peter Masefield, 2000, Pali Text Society, Bristol; the PTS's preferred translation; its declared aim is to translate in accordance with the commentary's interpretation; later reprinted in 1 volume with his translation of the Udana

Consists of 112 pieces, each consisting of prose followed by verse. In some, the verse is just a paraphrase of the prose; in others it complements it. The framing formulae ascribe the text to the Buddha.

A genre by this name is mentioned in the early texts, but the first clear reference to it as a book is in the commentaries.

Suttanipāta

In B18, S25; C25

Translations:

• Tr Viggo Fausbøll, in Sacred Books of the East, volume X, Clarendon/Oxford, 1881; reprinted by Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi (?and by Dover, New York)
• Buddha's Teachings, tr Lord Chalmers, Harvard Oriental Series, 1932
• Woven Cadences, tr E. M. Hare, 1945, out of print
• The Group of Discourses, tr K. R. Norman, 1984, Pali Text Society[7], Bristol; the original edition included alternative translations by I. B. Horner & Walpola Rahula; these are currently available in the paperback edition under the title The Rhinoceros Horn and Other Early Buddhist Poems; the current edition under the original title omits these, but includes instead the translator's notes, not included in the paperback
• Tr Saddhatissa, Curzon, London/Humanities Press, New York, 1985
• Tr N. A. Jayawickrama, University of Kelaniya, 2001

This book is divided into five sections. The first four comprise 54 suttas. The last is one long text in 16 sections plus introduction and conclusion. It is basically a poetic book, though some of the suttas embed the verse in a prose narrative framework.

Some scholars consider this the oldest of all Buddhist scriptures. Others put it on a par with the first four nikāyas. It is first mentioned in the Milindapañha.

Vimānavatthu

In B19, S26; C26

Translations:

• "Stories of the mansions", tr Jean Kennedy, in Minor Anthologies of the Pali Canon, volume IV, 1st edn, 1942
• ? Kennedy mentions an ongoing translation in instalments by P. Vajiranana and B. L. Broughton appearing in the Maha-Bodhi Journal; it is not clear from this reference whether the translation was ever completed
• "Stories of the mansions", tr I. B. Horner, in Minor Anthologies IV, 2nd edn, 1974, Pali Text Society[8], Bristol
• In Vimana Stories, tr Peter Masefield, 1989, Pali Text Society, Bristol; translation of the commentary, with the verses embedded; the PTS's preferred translation

This book consists of 85 poems. Typically, someone, most often the Buddha's disciple Moggallāna, addresses a deity, describing their "mansion" (vimāna), and asking what meritorious deed it is the reward of, and the deity replies.

Professor Warder says the contents are all later than 200 BC and the average date may be as much as a century later. It is first mentioned in the commentaries.

Petavatthu

In B19, S26; C27

Translations:

• "Stories of the departed", tr Henry S. Gehman, in Minor Anthologies of the Pali Canon, volume IV, 1942, Pali Text Society[9], Bristol
• In Peta-Stories, tr U Ba Kyaw & Peter Masefield, 1980, Pali Text Society, Bristol; translation of the commentary, with the verses embedded; the PTS's preferred translation

This book is the obverse of the preceding one. It consists of 51 poems. In this case a ghost (peta) is addressed, their sufferings are described, and the explanation is in terms of demeritorious deeds, most often meanness in donations to the monks. It gives prominence to the doctrine that giving alms to monks may benefit the ghosts of one's relatives.

Date as the preceding book. It is first mentioned in the commentaries.

Theragāthā

In B19, S26; C28

Translations:

• Psalms of the Brethren, tr C. A. F. Rhys Davids, 1913; reprinted in Psalms of the Early Buddhists, Pali Text Society[10], Bristol; this includes some stories from the commentary, which was written by Dhammapala, either in India or in Ceylon, some time between the 6th and the 10th century
• Elders' Verses, volume I, tr K. R. Norman, 1969, Pali Text Society, Bristol; the PTS's preferred translation; also available in paperback as Poems of Early Buddhist Monks, without the translator's notes

Consists of 264 poems, in roughly increasing order of length. They are ascribed to various monks, most personal disciples of the Buddha. Warder gives an average date of 4th century BC. It is first mentioned in the commentaries.

Therīgāthā

In B19, S26; C29

Translations:

• Psalms of the Sisters, tr C. A. F. Rhys Davids, 1909; reprinted in Psalms of the Early Buddhists, Pali Text Society[11], Bristol; verse translation, together with some stories from the commentary
• Elders' Verses, tr K. R. Norman, volume II, 1971, Pali Text Society, Bristol
• Poems of Early Buddhist Nuns, the two translations reprinted in one paperback volume without Mr Norman's notes, but including extracts from the commentary translated by Mrs Rhys Davids.
• The Commentary on the Verses of the Therīs, tr William Pruitt, 1998, Pali Text Society, Bristol; translation of commentary, with canonical text embedded

Corresponding work for nuns; 73 poems. Warder gives an average date of 4th century BC. It is first mentioned in the commentaries.

Jātaka

B22-23; C30-32; S27-28; E 6 volumes; N 1 volume in 2

Translated by E. B. Cowell and others, originally published in six volumes by Cambridge University Press, 1895-1907; reprinted in three volumes, Pali Text Society

This book comprises 547 poems, one of which also includes a substantial amount of prose. They are arranged roughly in increasing order of length. They are often more or less unintelligible through lack of context. The Niddesa says the Buddha taught them with reference to the past of himself and others. The traditional commentary gives stories of the Buddha's previous lives, providing a context, not necessarily correct. The translation includes these stories, but does not always clearly distinguish Canon and commentary. Warder gives an average date of 4th century BC. A genre of this name is mentioned in the early texts.

Niddesa

B24-25; C33-34; S29-30; E 3 volumes reprinted in 2; N 1 volume in 2.

Although this is usually described as a single book in secondary sources, even traditional ones, the actual title pages generally have no such heading, instead treating it as 2 books, Mahā- and Cūḷa- (BS) or Culla- (CE) -niddesa.

There seems to be no English translation.

This book is a commentary on parts of the Suttanipāta.

Tradition ascribes this book to the Buddha's disciple Sāriputta. Scholars do not accept this. Some date it around 250 BC, others to the 2nd century AD. It is first mentioned in the Peṭakopadesa.

Paṭisambhidāmagga

B26; C35; S31; E 2 volumes reprinted in 1

Translation: The Path of Discrimination, tr Nanamoli, 1982, PTS

Consists of 30 treatises.

Again traditionally ascribed to Sāriputta. A wide range of dates have been suggested by scholars. It is first mentioned in the Dīpavaṃsa.

Apadāna

C36-37; in B20-21, S32-33

There seems to be no English translation.

Consists of 603 (BCN), 592 (S) or 589 (E) poems. Typically, each is told by a monk or nun, and tells how they performed some meritorious act in a distant past life, and as a result experienced favourable rebirths and eventually attained nirvana. The meritorious deeds are mostly devotional in nature, but sometimes moral.

Generally recognized by scholars as one of the latest books of the Canon; Warder says all later than 200 BC, average date may be as much as a century later. It is first mentioned in the commentaries.

Buddhavaṃsa

In B21, C38, S33

Translations:

• "The lineage of the Buddhas", in Minor Anthologies of the Pali Canon, volume III, 1st edition, tr B. C. Law, 1938
• The Genealogy of the Buddhas, tr M. V. Takin, Bombay University Publications, 1969
• "Chronicle of Buddhas", in Minor Anthologies III, 2nd edition, tr I. B. Horner, 1975, Pali Text Society

Another verse book, in which the Buddha tells of previous Buddhas and the acts of merit he performed in previous lives towards them.

Professor Warder says this is later than the Apadāna, Professor von Hinüber the reverse. It is first mentioned in the Milindapañha.

Cariyāpiṭaka

In B21, C38, S33

Translations:

• "The collection of the ways of conduct", in Minor Anthologies of the Pali Canon, volume III, 1st edition, tr B. C. Law, 1938
• "Basket of conduct", in Minor Anthologies III, 2nd edition, tr I. B. Horner, 1975, Pali Text Society

Verse book in which the Buddha tells of his practice of the perfections in previous lives.

Warder dates this as later than the Apadāna. It is first mentioned in the Milindapañha.

Nettippakaraṇa or Netti

C39; in B27; also in the Phayre manuscript (1841/2), and in the inscriptions approved by the Fifth Council (1871)

The title is Netti in B, Nettippakaraṇa in C, Nettipakaraṇa in the PTS edition (which is not included in its set of the Canon).

Translation: The Guide, tr Nanamoli, 1962, Pali Text Society

This book deals with methods of interpretation.

The Netti itself says that the methods were taught by the Buddha's disciple Kaccāna (also Kaccāyana), and the colophon says he composed the book, that it was approved by the Buddha and that it was recited at the First Council. Scholars do not take this literally, but the translator admits the methods may go back to him. Suggested dates range from 2nd century BC to around the Christian era. It is first mentioned in the commentaries, but the earliest source so far discovered that regards it as canonical is Ñāṇābhivaṃsa's Sādhu(jana)vilāsinī, c. 1800.

Peṭakopadesa

C40; in B27; also in the inscriptions approved by the Fifth Council (1871)

Translation: Pitaka-Disclosure, tr Nanamoli, 1964, Pali Text Society

A similar work to the preceding, with a lot of overlap. The chapter colophons ascribe it to Kaccāna. Scholars disagree on which came first. It is first clearly mentioned in Dhammapāla's commentary on the Netti, which also uses the short form Peṭaka. The latter also appears in Buddhaghosa's Visuddhimagga (5th century), but it is not clear whether this refers to the same work. The earliest source so far discovered that regards it as canonical is Ñāṇābhivaṃsa's Sādhu(jana)vilāsinī, c. 1800.

Milindapañha

B28; also in the inscriptions approved by the Fifth Council (1871)

Translations:

• Questions of King Milinda, tr T. W. Rhys Davids, Sacred Books of the East, volumes XXXV & XXXVI, Clarendon/Oxford, 1890-94; reprinted by Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi (?& Dover, New York)
• Milinda's Questions, tr I. B. Horner, 1963-4, 2 volumes, Pali Text Society

A dialogue between King Menander of Bactria (2nd century BC) and a Buddhist monk called Nāgasena.

According to Hinüber, the later parts of this book were complete by the 5th century AD. It is first mentioned in the commentaries. The earliest source so far discovered that includes it in the Canon is the inscriptions of the latter produced at Mandalay in the 1860s.

Abhidhammapiṭaka

B29-40; C41-52; K78-110; S34-45

Consists of seven books. BKNS have them in the following order:

1. Dhammasaṅgaṇi
2. Vibhaṅga
3. Dhātukathā
4. Puggalapaññatti
5. Kathāvatthu
6. Yamaka
7. Paṭṭhāna

C places 5 before 3. The Burmese translation omits 3, 6 and 7.

Abhidhamma has been variously described as philosophy, psychology, metaphysics etc. L. S. Cousins says that the abhidhamma methodology looks at things in terms of occasions or events instead of sequences or processes.

The Parivāra says the Buddha taught this, but scholars agree these texts are late, giving various dates from 4th century BC to 2nd AD. However, some say the methods are older. There are some passages in the suttas that may refer to abhidhamma, or this may be two separate words, abhi dhamma. The first clear reference to abhidhamma is in the Suttavibhaṅga, but the name Abhidhammapiṭaka first appears in the Parivāra, which also refers to seven books. These are first listed in the Milindapañha.

Dhammasaṅgaṇi

B29; C41; S34

Translations:

• A Buddhist Manual of Psychological Ethics, tr C. A. F. Rhys Davids, Royal Asiatic Society, 1900; reprinted with corrections, Pali Text Society
• Tr U Kyaw Khine, Department for the Promotion and Propagation of the Sasana, Rangoon, ?1996; reprinted by Sri Satguru Pubns, Delhi, 2 volumes

Lists and classifies "dhammas", variously translated as ideas, phenomena etc.

Dates have been suggested from 4th to 2nd century BC.

Vibhaṅga

B30; C42-43; S35

Translation: The Book of Analysis, tr U Thittila, 1969, Pali Text Society

This book consists of 18 chapters on various topics, which use ideas in the preceding book. Scholars disagree which came first.

Dhātukathā

In B31, C47, S36

Translation: Discourse on Elements, tr U Narada, 1962, PTS

This book combines ideas from the two preceding abhidhamma books.

Dates have been suggested in the 3rd and last centuries BC.

Puggalapaññatti

In B31, C47, S36

Translation: A Designation of Human Types, tr B. C. Law, 1922, PTS

This book deals with classifications of persons, which are arranged numerically, from 1-fold to 10-fold.

Kathāvatthu

B32; C44-46; S37; E 2 volumes reprinted in 1

Translation: Points of Controversy, tr. S.Z. Aung & C.A.F. Rhys Davids, 1915, PTS

This book is a collection of debates on points of doctrine. The text does not identify the participants, but tradition, followed by many scholars, interprets the debates as between Theravada and other schools of Buddhism. However, L. S. Cousins says

In spiritual traditions the world over, instructors have frequently employed apparent contradictions as part of their teaching method – perhaps to induce greater awareness in the pupil or to bring about a deeper and wider view of the subject in hand. The Pali Canon contains many explicit examples of such methods. (Indeed much of the Kathāvatthu makes better sense in these terms than as sectarian controversy.)

According to tradition, this work was compiled by the venerable Moggaliputta Tissa in his role as leader of the Third Council, which took place around 250 BC, based on a framework taught by the Buddha. Some scholars accept this date; others hold that additions were made as new "heresies" came to the attention of the authorities.

Yamaka

B33-35; C48-49; S38-39; E 2 volumes; N 3 volumes

An English translation was published in Malaysia.

In 10 chapters on various topics, consisting of converse pairs (yamaka) of questions and answers.

It has been suggested this may be the latest Abhidhamma book.

Paṭṭhāna

B36-40; C50-52; S40-45; E 4 volumes reprinted in 2; N 6 volumes

Translation: Conditional Relations, tr U Narada, 1969-, in progress, 2 volumes so far, PTS

Treats causality and conditionality.

Yamada makes this the latest Abhidhamma book.