Master of Buddhism: lesson 9 (assignment)

1.    What are the three main divisions of the Pali Cannon? The Vinaya Pitaka, Sutta Pitaka, Adhimmada Pitaka – the last of these not recognized outside the Theravada tradition. 2.      How many pages are in the Pali Cannon? Approximately 20,000 pages. 3.      In your opinion, does it matter whether the Buddha actually spoke the words making up the text of "Original Buddhism?" How accurate is accurate? Not particularly. Buddhism is not a revealed religion in the sense that God or some divinity revealed truth in an external, verbal form. Truth was revealed through the Buddha's enlightenment – enlightenment which is in everyone's reach (i.e. the historical Buddha was not an incarnate divinity or specially chosen prophet). So, whether the teachings come from Siddhartha Gautama or some other enlightened person is mostly irrelevant as it's the spiritual message of the teachings that's important. J.P.A.