Sutra
Sutra
is the second division of the sacred writings of the Buddhists, addressed to the laity. The following will show how these sacred writings are classified: The Dharmma, divided into the Suttani and Abhidhammani; again divided into 1. Winaya, or discipline; 2. Sutra, or discourses; 3. Abhidharmma, or pre-eminent truths. The Sutra Pitaka contains seven sections, called Sangis; and, including both text and commentary, has 396,500 stanzas. See Hardy, Eastern fonachism.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Sutra
(Skr. string) An aphorism, the earliest form chosen for mnemonic reasons, in which philosophic thought was couched in India, necessitating often elaborate commentaries (bhasya) which frequently differ widely in their interpretation of the original and have occasioned vanous schools. — K.F.L.