Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Buddhism
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Different religions have their own sacred scriptures and canonical collections of teachings. The term Tripitaka or Tipitaka literally means three baskets and refers to a set of texts that preserve the teachings and monastic rules of a particular religious tradition. This question asks you to link Tripitakas to the correct religion.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- The key term is Tripitakas or Tipitakas.- The question is about identifying the religion for which these texts are sacred canonical books.- The options list Hinduism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, and Sikhism.
Concept / Approach:
In religious studies, Tripitaka is commonly used to denote the three main divisions of the Buddhist canon Vinaya Pitaka, Sutta Pitaka, and Abhidhamma or Abhidharma Pitaka. These contain monastic rules, discourses, and philosophical analyses. Therefore, the correct association is with Buddhism, not with the other listed religions whose scriptures have different names.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Buddhism has a canonical collection often referred to as the Pali Canon or Tripitaka.
Step 2: Understand that the three baskets are the Vinaya Pitaka for monastic discipline, the Sutta Pitaka for discourses, and the Abhidhamma Pitaka for analytical teachings.
Step 3: Compare this with Hinduism, whose sacred texts include the Vedas, Upanishads, and epics, but not Tripitakas by that name.
Step 4: Jainism has its own Agamas, Zoroastrianism has the Avesta, and Sikhism has the Guru Granth Sahib.
Step 5: Therefore, Tripitakas must be associated with Buddhism.
Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by remembering that Buddhist literature in Pali and other languages often uses the word Pitaka for major sections of the canon and that references to three baskets appear in introductions to Buddhism. No other world religion regularly uses the Tripitaka label for its main canon. This confirms that Buddhism is the correct choice.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option a is wrong because Hindu sacred literature is known by names like Vedas and Upanishads, not Tripitakas.Option b is wrong since Jain scriptures are called Agamas and other names, not Tripitakas.Option c is wrong as Zoroastrianism has the Avesta as its main sacred text.Option e is wrong because Sikhism reveres the Guru Granth Sahib as its central scripture, not a Tripitaka.
Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may confuse the many religious texts in Indian traditions and think that Tripitaka is a generic Sanskrit term used for Hindu or Jain scriptures. Another mistake is to assume that all Indian religions share the same canonical names. Distinguishing each religion by its main scripture titles is an effective strategy.
Final Answer:
The Tripitakas are the sacred canonical books of Buddhism.
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