Primary Texts of Buddhism

Kaivalya Upanishad

Author: N/A

Date of Composition: 6th century BCE

Country or region of Composition: India

Original language: sanskrit

Associated Tradition: Upanisads, Vedic tradition

Fruits of Contemplative Life

Author: The Buddha, Recited by Ananda

Date of Composition: 4th-5th Century BCE

Country or region of Composition: India

Original language: Pali

Associated Tradition: Foundational Buddhism

Path of Purification

Author: Buddhaghosa

Date of Composition: 5th Century

Country or region of Composition: Sri Lanka

Original language: Pali

Associated Tradition: Theravada Buddhism

Lotus Sutra

Author: Attributed to the Buddha

Date of Composition: Possibly 2nd Century

Country or region of Composition: India

Original language: Sanskrit

Associated Tradition: Mahayana

Heart Sutra

Author: attributed to the Buddha

Date of Composition: possibly 2nd century

Country or region of Composition: Excerpted from a Chinese translation before being translated back into Sanskrit, India.

Original language: Sankirt/Chinese

Associated Tradition: Mahayana, Perfection of Wisdom

Verses on the Middle Way

Author: Nargajuna

Date of Composition:: 2nd Century CE

Country or region of Composition: India

Original language: Sanskrit

Associated Tradition: Madhyamaka, Mahayana

Zhuangzi

Author: Zhuangzi

Date of Composition:: 5th Century BCE

Country or region of Composition: China

Original language: Chinese

Associated Tradition: Daoism

The Great Maudagalyana rescues his mother from hell

Author: Chinese Buddhist Folk Tale

Date of Composition:3th-4th century

Country or region of Composition: China

Original language: Chinese

Associated Tradition: Popular Chinese Buddhism

Platform Sutra

Author: Huineng

Date of Composition: 8th century CE

Country or region of Composition: China

Original language: Chinese

Associated Tradition: Southern School of Chan

Tannisho

Author: Yueinbo/attributed to Shinran

Date of Composition: 13th century CE

Country or region of Composition: Japan

Original language: Japanese

Associated Tradition: Japanese Pure Land.