What does the Pāli word nikāya mean?
The Pāli word nikāya means volume. Rhys Davids and Stede defined it as a collection, assemblage, class, or group in their 1921 to 1925 dictionary.
Questions about Nikāya
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Which five collections exist within the Sutta Piñaka of the Tripitaka?
Five distinct collections exist within the Sutta Piñaka: the Dīgha Nikāya holds long discourses, the Majjhima Nikāya contains middle-length discourses, the Samyutta Nikāya groups thematically linked teachings together, the Anguttara Nikāya arranges content by numerical enumerations, and the Khuddaka Nikāya serves as the minor collection for shorter works.
How do Theravada nations use the term nikāya for monastic divisions?
Theravāda nations in Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka use nikāya for monastic divisions. Royal patronage often creates new groupings like the Dhammayuttika Nikāya of Thailand, while national origin defines lineages such as the Siam Nikāya of Sri Lanka.
What is the legal status of gaing orders in Myanmar according to the 1990 Law Concerning Sangha Organizations?
The 1990 Law Concerning Sangha Organizations legally recognized only nine existing gaings. No new gaings have been permitted since that law passed, and all monastic orders in Myanmar are called gaing or gaña rather than nikāya.
Who coined the term Nikāya Buddhism and why was it created?
Professor Masatoshi Nagatomi of Harvard University coined the term Nikāya Buddhism. He suggested this usage to avoid the offensive term Hinayana Buddhism.