Nikāya
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. This term appears frequently within the Sutta Piñaka of the Tripitaka. It functions similarly to the Sanskrit word āgama in both languages. Scholars use these words to describe specific groupings of texts.
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. The Khuddaka Nikāya serves as the minor collection for shorter works.
Other early Buddhist schools used the alternate term āgama instead of nikāya. Mahāyāna Buddhists refer to the non-Mahāyāna portion of the Sanskrit-language Sutra Piñaka as the Agamas. These texts survive primarily through Classical Tibetan and Chinese translations. They correspond closely with the Pāli nikāyas found in Theravada traditions. No original Sanskrit versions remain intact today.
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. National origin defines lineages such as the Siam Nikāya of Sri Lanka. Differences in interpreting the monastic code can also spark a split. The Amarapura Nikāya emerged specifically to counter caste restrictions within the Siam Nikāya.
All monastic orders in Myanmar are called gaing or gaña rather than nikāya. Some orders include both terms in their official names. The 1990 Law Concerning Sangha Organizations legally recognized only nine existing gaings. No new gaings have been permitted since that law passed. The largest order is the Thudhamma Gaing, founded during the 1800s Konbaung dynasty.
Professor Masatoshi Nagatomi of Harvard University coined the term Nikāya Buddhism. He suggested this usage to avoid the offensive term Hinayana Buddhism. Robert Thurman noted this coinage while discussing eighteen schools of Indian Buddhism. Scholars sometimes exclude pre-sectarian Buddhism when applying this label. Theravada refers to practices based on these early teachings preserved in the Pāli Canon.
Common questions
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.
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.