Nikāya

Nikaya is a word from the Pali language, which is used to mark Buddhist texts. In the Buddhist Pali Canon, especially when Suttapitaka means Nikaya " book" or " band", even though the Suttapitaka are so extensive that they can hardly be issued in one volume.

Other meanings

In the Theravada schools of Southeast Asia Nikaya may designate a department of the monastic community, but is also a polite term for a Buddhist community of faith (see Thammayut Nikaya ).

The equivalent used in China is Agama: the Suttapitaka of the Pali canon are of the Mahayana Buddhists sometimes called " The Agamas ", " The Nikāyas " contrast against Theravada Buddhists.

• Buddhist literature