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Buddhism

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Buddhism is a religion and philosophy developed by the Buddha, a teacher who lived in northern India in the mid 4th - 6th century BCE. The religion has spread to Central and Southeast Asia, China, Korea, and Japan. Buddhism is a way of reflecting on daily life, and how to let go of unwanted feelings or troubles in order to feel enlightenment and become a Buddha. (A Buddha is a scholar who has reached "spiritual enlightenment")

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The 23 Scriptures

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The Dhammapada

The Dhammapada is one of the biggest scriptures in Buddhism. It explains how to deal with everyday troubles and is also seen as a way of life. Link

The Pali Vinaya

The Pali Vinaya is a scripture with four sections, explaining the rules of nuns and monks.

Khandhaka: (The two sections below make up the Khandhaka)

- Mahavagga: The Mahavagga explains Buddha's life shortly after enlightenment. Also explains the rules for ordination and ritual procedures.

- Cullavaga: The Cullavaga explains monastic (referring to a group of monks) etiquette and manners. Also explains acounts of the First and Second Buddhist Councils. (The first "Buddha scholars")

- Parivara: The Parivara is a summary of the above sections.

The Avtamsaka Sutra

The Avtamsaka Sutra is a scripture that explains when Buddha reached enlightenment, who then talks with the gods and learns about precious gemstones and crystals.

The Five Nikayas

The Five Nikayas are a list of documents explaining the narratives and discourses of the early Buddhist scholars of Buddha's teachings.

Pali Canon

The Pali Canon is the standard collection of scriptures preserved in the ancient Indian language Pali.

The Mahayana Sutras

The Mahayana Sutras are a list of scriptures that explains the different realms known within Buddhist religion.

The Three Pitakas

Basically an older version of the Dhammapada. The 23 Scriptures are mostly within the Dhammapada.

The Jataka Tales

Explains Gautama Buddha's past lives as a humans and animals.

The Prajnaparamita

A scripture that explains the perfect way of seeing the nature of reality and universal wisdom.

Udana

A scripture inside the Pali Canon.

The Mahāvastu

The texts of the early Buddhist scholars at the first school in Buddhism.

The Buddhavamsa

A Buddhist text that describes the life of Buddha and the twenty-four Buddhas who preceded him.

Yogachara

A scripture that emphasizes the importance of cognition, perception, and consciousness.

Udanavarga

Early Buddhist collection of the other scriptures.

Note: It says the 23 Scriptures, but the other scriptures are either older versions or updated versions of other scriptures, and some scriptures are seen as separate texts rather than together.