Buddhist texts.

Buddhists texts are the large body of scriptures and sacred writings that incorporate the life story and teachings of the historical Buddha and form the foundation of the Buddhist religion. Unlike many major world religions, Buddhism does not have a definitive sacred text such as the Bible or Quran. Early Buddhist teachings were passed along orally and were not written down until centuries after the Buddha’s death. By then, Buddhism had split into several schools of thought, each with its own distinct philosophies. As a result, different braches of Buddhism hold different Buddhist texts in higher regard. Generally, scholars consider three texts to be of primary importance to the religion. The Pali Canon, or Tripitaka, is one of the earliest collections of Buddhist writings; the Mahayana Sutras are religions writings accepted by followers of Mahayana Buddhism; and the Tibetan Book of the Dead is the English name of a text meant to guide followers of Tibetan Buddhism into the next life.