Threefold Training

Translations of
triśikṣā
Englishthreefold training, three trainings, three disciplines
Sanskritत्रिशिक्षा (triśikṣā)
Palitisikkhā
Chinese三学
(Pinyin: sān xué)
Japanese三學
(Rōmaji: sangaku)
Korean삼학
(RR: samhak)
Tibetanལྷག་པའི་བསླབ་པ་གསུམ།
(Wylie: lhag-pa’i bslab-pa gsum)
Tagalogtrisikga
Thaiไตรสิกขา
(RTGS: traisikkha)
Vietnamesetam học
Glossary of Buddhism

The Buddha identified the threefold training (Sanskrit: triśikṣā; Pali: tisikkhā; or simply śikṣā or sikkhā)[1] as training in:

  • higher virtue (Pali adhisīla-sikkhā, Skt. adhiśīlaśikṣa)
  • higher mind (Pali adhicitta-sikkhā, Skt. samādhiśikṣa)
  • higher wisdom (Pali adhipaññā-sikkhā, Skt. prajñāśikṣa)
  1. ^ See the Anguttara Nikaya Book of Threes' (Tikanipata) Monks chapter (Samanavagga). This chapter's suttas are alternately identified as AN 3:82 to 3:92. Of these suttas, the two most widely translated into English are AN 3:88 and 3:89, respectively referred to as "Sikkha (1)" and "Sikkha (2)" by Thanissaro Bhikkhu, and as "Dutiyasikkhasuttam" and "Tatiyasikkhasuttam" in the Sinhalese canon. English translations of these latter two suttas can be found in: Nyanaponika & Bodhi (1999), pp. 69-71; Thanissaro (1998a); and, Thanissaro (1998b). Also see, e.g., DN 16.4.3 (PTS D ii.123) (boldface added for emphasis):
    "Sīla samādhi paññā ca,

    vimutti ca anuttarā;
    Anubuddhā ime dhammā,
    gotamena yasassinā.

    Iti buddho abhiññāya,
    dhammamakkhāsi bhikkhuna;
    Dukkhassantakaro satthā,
    cakkhumā parinibbuto"ti.

    Translated by Vajira & Story (1998) (boldface added for emphasis) as:

    "Virtue, concentration, wisdom, and emancipation unsurpassed —

    These are the principles realized by Gotama the renowned;
    And, knowing them, he, the Buddha, to his monks has taught the Dhamma.
    He, the destroyer of suffering, the Master, the Seer, is at peace."