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(1) Kandaraka Sutta
This discourse was delivered at Campæ in connection with Kandaraka, the wandering ascetic, and Pessa, son of an elephant rider, who marvelled at the silence maintained by the huge congregation of bhikkhus, not making any sound, not even a sneeze nor a cough. The Buddha explained that their silence was due to their accomplishments in samædhi and to their training on four Methods of Steadfast Mindfulness. The Buddha also elucidated the four types of individuals engaged in meditation.
(2) AĨĨhakanægara Sutta
The householder Dasama of AĨĨhaka wanted to know if there was a single dhamma which could cause liberation and realization of Nibbæna. The Venerable Ænanda informed him there was a group of dhammas, eleven in number, namely, the four jhænas, the four Brahmavihæra practices, and Ækæsænaņcæyatana, Viņņæžaņcæyatana, Ækiņcaņņæyatana. Contemplating the impermanent nature of each of these dhammas would lead one to Nibbæna.
(3) Sekha Sutta
This discourse was given by the Venerable Ænanda to the Sakyans headed by Prince Mahænæma. The Venerable Ænanda explained the path consisting of three steps, søla, samædhi and paņņæ to be followed by an aspirant to higher knowledge culminating in the knowledge of cessation of æsava.
(4) Potaliya Sutta
Potaliya had left worldly affairs behind with a view to lead the holy life. When the Buddha saw him dressed in ordinary everyday attire, the Buddha addressed him as ‘Gahapati’, householder, which Potaliya resented. The Buddha explained to him that in the vocabulary of the Vinaya one was said to have cut oneself off from the world only when one refrained from killing, stealing, telling lies, slandering, and only when one was abstemious, not conceited, and controlled in one’s temper.
(5) Jøvaka Sutta
This discourse was given at Ræjagaha in connection with Jøvaka, the great physician, who enquired whether it was true that the Buddha ate the meat of animals killed purposely for him. The Buddha told him that he had made it a rule for the bhikkhus not to partake of any meat which they saw or heard or had reason to suspect to be especially prepared for them. Further, a bhikkhu should not show eagerness for food nor be greedy in eating; he should eat with reflection that he took the meal only to sustain the body in order to pursue the path of liberation.
(6) Upæli Sutta
A prominent, wealthy lay disciple of NigažĨha NæĨaputta was sent by his master to meet the Buddha and defeat him in argument on certain aspects of the Theory of Kamma. Whereas the NigažĨha stressed on the physical and vocal actions being more productive of resultant effects, the Buddha maintained that it was volition or mental action that was paramount. By means of his discourse the Buddha converted Upæli, and overwhelmed by intense wrath over the loss of his most prominent disciple, NæĨaputta died.
(7) Kukkuravatika Sutta
This discourse, given by the Buddha to two naked ascetics named Pužža and Seniya at the market town of Koliya, deals with four kinds of actions and four kinds of resultant effects arising therefrom: (i) black deed leading to black result, (i) white deed leading to white result, (iii) deed which is both black and white leading to result which is both black and white and (iv) deed which is neither black nor white leading to result which is neither black nor white.
(8) Abhayaræjakumæra Sutta
Prince Abhayaræjakumæra was sent by NigažĨha NæĨaputta to ask the Buddha whether he uttered unpleasant words about the destiny of Devadatta. The Buddha enumerated six modes of utterances out of which he would make two modes of utterances: words which are true, profitable but not pleasant to others and words which are true, profitable and pleasant to others.
(9) Bahuvedanøya Sutta
This discourse was given at Sævatthi to explain the various kinds of vedanæ which might be two in number: sukha and dukkha vedanæs; or three in number by including the upekkhæ vedanæ; or five, six, eighteen or thirty-six, or one hundred and eight, depending on the method of enumeration. Ordinarily sensations that arise from pleasures of the senses are regarded as sukha, or happiness. But the Buddha explains that the acme of happiness is attainment of nirodha samæpatti.
(10) Apažžaka Sutta
This discourse was given by the Buddha to the villagers of Sælæ in the country of Kosala who had not yet accepted any of the teachings taught by leaders of the various sects visiting their village. The Buddha showed them the right path which would not lead them astray. The wrong views of the sectarians were contrasted against the right views propounded by the Buddha; the disadvantages of wrong views, and the advantages of right views were explained.
(1) AmbalaĨĨhikaræhulovæda Sutta
In this discourse, given at Ræjagaha, the Buddha exhorted his son Ræhula, a sæmažera aged seven, on the necessity of observing the fundamental moral precept of truthfulness, and of practising mindfulness, by giving the similes of the upturned water pot, the royal elephant and the mirror.
(2) Mahæræhulovæda Sutta
This discourse on the five khandhas was given at Sævatthi by the Buddha to Ræhula at the age of eighteen. The Venerable Særiputta also taught Ræhula the meditation on Ænæpæna. The Buddha further explained to him the advantages of Ænæpæna meditation and gave him another discourse on the four great elements.
(3) Cþđamælukya Sutta
This discourse was given at Sævatthi to the bhikkhu Mælukya. Bhikkhu Mælukya interrupted his meditation one afternoon, went to the Buddha and asked him the wellknown classical questions: Is the universe eternal or not etc.; is the soul the same as the body, is soul one thing and body another, etc.; does life exist after death, or does it not exist after death.
The Buddha explained to him that the practice of the holy life did not depend upon these views. Whatever view one may hold about them, there would still be birth, ageing, decay, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, distress. The Buddha said that he taught only about dukkha, the cause of dukkha, the cessation of dukkha and the way leading to the cessation of dukkha.
(4) Mahæmælukya Sutta
This discourse was given to bhikkhu Mælukya at Sævatthi to explain the five fetters, namely, personality belief, doubt, attachment to wrong practice, sensual desires and ill will, which lead beings to lower destinations.
(5) Bhaddæli Sutta
This discourse, given at Sævatthi, is an exhortation to bhikkhu Bhaddæli who refused to obey the disciplinary rule of not eating after midday and in the evening; the Buddha explained why bhikkhus in the Teaching should respect the disciplinary rules laid down by him.
(6) LaĨukikopama Sutta
This discourse was given to the Venerable Udæyi in connection with observance of disciplinary rules and precepts. When the five strengths (balas), namely, faith, energy, mindfulness, concentration and insight are not well developed, the bhikkhu finds even a paltry restraint like refraining from eating meals in the afternoon and in the evening very irksome and onerous. But when the five Balas are fully developed, even stringent rules can be observed without any difficulty or discomfort.
(7) Cætuma Sutta
This discourse was given at Cætuma to the disciples of the Venerable Særiputta and the Venerable Mahæ Moggallæna, who came with five hundred bhikkhus to see the Buddha. The five hundred bhikkhus made a lot of noise while settling down. The Buddha refused to see them at first, but later relented and taught them the dangers in the life of a bhikkhu. Just as there are dangers and hazards in a sea like stormy waves, crocodiles, whirlpools, and sharks, so also there are dangers against which the bhikkhu must be always on guard, namely, ill will against those who instruct them and guide them; dissatisfaction with training rules such as those concerning taking of meals or dealing with womenfolk; and pleasures of senses.
(8) Nađakapæna Sutta
This discourse was given to the Venerable Anuruddha and to the villagers of Nađakapæna to explain that unless a bhikkhu had attained the higher stages of Magga and Phala, accomplishments in supernormal psychic powers may prove to be harmful to him. The Buddha himself talked about the destinations of the departed persons not to earn praise and admiration but to arouse enthusiasm and faith in his disciples.
(9) Goliyæni Sutta
This discourse was given at Ræjagaha by the Venerable Særiputta to Goliyæni Bhikkhu concerning eighteen dhammas which a forest dwelling bhikkhu should observe.
(10) KøĨægiri Sutta
This discourse was given at the market town of KøĨægiri on the advantages of taking meals only before noon and the disadvantages of eating in the evening.
(1) Tevijjavaccha Sutta
Vacchagotta, the wandering ascetic, questioned the Buddha whether it would be true to say that Sabbaņņuta Ņæža was constantly and continuously present to him all the time, while walking or standing, asleep or awake. The Buddha replied that it would not be true to say so. It would be true to say only that the Buddha was accomplished in the three kinds of knowledge, namely, knowledge of the past, power of divine seeing, and knowledge of liberation.
(2) Aggivaccha Sutta
This discourse was given by the Buddha at Sævatthi in connection with Vacchagotta who approached the Buddha quite often to ask many questions about atta. On this occasion too he asked the Buddha whether there was atta, whether atta was permanent, etc. The Buddha told him he held no theories about atta because he had seen the nature of things as they really were. Then he explained to him the dhamma in some detail.
(3) Mahævaccha Sutta
This discourse was given by the Buddha to Vacchagotta at Ræjagaha. On his Visit to the Buddha after a long interval, Vacchagotta no longer troubled the Buddha with his speculations about atta, loka, etc.; instead, he requested to be taught on good and bad deeds (Kusalækusalaĩ Kammaĩ) in brief. The Buddha explained to him the dhamma on good and bad deeds in brief as well as in detail.
Vacchagotta became a disciple of the Buddha and received admission into the Order. Then practising the dhamma as instructed, he ultimately attained Arahatship, realizing Nibbæna. The problems of atta, loka, etc., no longer obsessed him.
(4) Døghanakha Sutta
This important discourse was given by the Buddha in the Sþkarakhata Cave near Ræjagaja, to Døghanakha, the wandering ascetic, a nephew of the Venerable Særiputta, in order to remove his wrong views of annihilation. As the Buddha taught him the dhamma contemplation of the body and contemplation of sensation (sukha, dukkha, adukkhamasukha), his uncle the Venerable Særiputta was standing behind the Buddha, fanning him. It was only fifteen days ago that the Venerable Særiputta had been admitted into the Order by the Buddha. While following the progress of the discourse, as though sharing the food prepared for another, the Venerable Særiputta advanced rapidly from the stage of a Sotæpanna which he had already reached, and attained the perfect state of Arahatship with the fourfold Analytical Knowledge (PaĨisambhidæ Ņæža), At the end of the discourse his nephew, the wandering ascetic Døghanakha, became a Sotæpanna.
(5) Mægažðiya Sutta
This discourse was given by the Buddha at the market town of Kammæsadhamma in the Kuru country in connection with Mægažðiya, the wandering ascetic, who resented the Buddha’s criticism of his wrong beliefs. The Buddha exhorted him to practice control of the senses and sensuous thoughts. He told the wandering ascetic the story of his renunciation, how he had left his luxurious palaces and how, on discovering the Truth, he found happiness in Arahattaphala which was far superior to any of the sensuous pleasures. Mægažðiya gave up his wrong views to become a disciple of the Buddha.
(6) Sandaka Sutta
This discourse was given at Kosambø to Sandaka, the wandering ascetic, and his followers by the Venerable Ænanda. The Venerable Ænanda explained to them the four wrong views of sect-leaders who held there was no existence after death, that there was no evil nor good, no cause for any phenomena, and that there were only aggregates of seven elements. Finally he taught the wandering ascetics the dhamma as expounded by the Buddha. As a consequence of his teaching, Sandaka and his followers abandoned their wrong views and became disciples of the Buddha.
(7) Mahæsakuludæyi Sutta
At one time the Buddha and his company of bhikkhus were residing at Ræjagaha where six leaders of sects were also spending the rains with their respective followers. Then Udæyø, the wandering ascetic, who was visited by the Buddha, extolled the virtues of the Buddha saying that other leaders were sometimes criticized even by their followers, whereas the Buddha was the exception. Even if the Buddha’s disciples left the Order, they did not find fault with the Buddha nor the Dhamma. They only blamed themselves for not being able to follow his Teaching. Udæyø attributed this difference in reverential respect enjoyed by the Buddha to five aspects of his virtues. The Buddha rejected Udæyø’s enumeration of his virtues which were mostly attributed to ascetic practices, and explained to him the real cause of the total veneration bestowed on him by his followers.
(8) Samažamužðika Sutta
The wandering ascetic Uggahamana, son of Samažamužðika, was teaching that any recluse who refrained from wrong deed, wrong word, wrong thought, and wrong livelihood was a fully accomplished Arahat. The Buddha rejected his assertion, saying that in that case, even an infant sleeping innocently upon his bed could claim to Arahatship. He then explained that it was only the Noble Path of Eight Constituents leading to Right Knowledge and Right Liberation that could bring about realization of Arahatship.
(9) Cþđasakuludæyi Sutta
This discourse was given at Ræjagaha. The wandering ascetic Sakuludæyi asked the Buddha many questions about atta and søla, and the Buddha explained to him the practice in the Teaching beginning with the precept of not taking the life of a being and ending with the realization of Nibbæna.
(10) Vekhanasa Sutta
This discourse was given at Sævatthi. The Buddha explained to Vekhanasa, the wandering ascetic, how happiness accruing from spiritual attainments was superior to that derived from sensuous pleasures. The Buddha also gave the assurance that any honest worker who would follow his instructions sincerely could enjoy the bliss of spiritual attainments.
(1) GhaĨikæra Sutta
This discourse, given by the Buddha while journeying in Kosala, recounts the story of high devotion of GhaĨikæra, the potter, who looked after his blind parents and who at the same time attended upon Kassapa Buddha with utter reverence. There was also the account of how GhaĨikæra forcibly pulled along his friend, young Jotipæla, to where Kassapa Buddha was, to pay respect. After hearing the dhamma discourses young Jotipæla left the household life to be admitted into the Order by Kassapa Buddha. This interesting ancient episode that had happened in Kassapa Buddha’s time many aeons ago was recounted to the Venerable Ænanda by Gotama Buddha standing on the very spot where once stood, a long, long time ago, the house of GhaĨikhæra, the potter. The Buddha concluded his story by revealing that young Jotipæla was none other than the present Gotama Buddha.
(2) RaĨĨhapæla Sutta
RaĨĨhapæla, the son of a wealthy brahmin obtained his parents’ permission with great difficulty to become a bhikkhu under the guidance of the Buddha. After twelve years of strenuous endeavour, when he became a full-fledged Arahat, he visited his parents’ home. His parents attempted to entice him with wealth and wife back to household life but to no avail. He taught his parents the law of impermanence, anicca; he said he saw nothing alluring in the wealth and the wife.
(3) Maghadeva Sutta
This discourse was given at the Royal mango grove at Mithilæ. The Buddha told the Venerable Ænanda about the noble tradition laid down by the righteous King Maghadeva. When his hair began to turn white, he gave up the household life leaving his dominions to his eldest son. This tradition was handed down from king to son for generations and generations, over thousands and thousands of years until the reign of King Nimi.
King Nimi had a son by the name of Kađærajanaka who did not go forth from home life into homelessness when the time came like his predecessors. Kađærajanaka terminated the noble practice laid down by the tradition. He thus became the last person of that tradition.
The Buddha revealed that he was the King Maghadeva of that ancient time laying down the noble tradition. The Buddha said that that noble tradition did not lead to calm, to higher knowledge. It only led to the realm of Brahmæs. But the noble practice which he was leading now as a Buddha certainly led to the disillusionment with the five khandhas, the abandonment of attachment and the cessation of dukkha; to calm, higher knowledge, penetrative insight and realization of Nibbæna. The Buddha then exhorted, “Ænanda, continue to follow this good practice which I have laid down. Let you not be the person with whom my tradition ends.”
(4) Madhura Sutta
This discourse was given by the Venerable Mahækaccæna at Madhura. He refuted the brahmins’ claim that only brahmins were noble and superior, and that others were inferior. He explained to King Madhura that it was one’s morality, not birth that established one’s nobility. Anyone whether Brahmin, Khattiya, Vessa or Sudda, committing a wrong deed would be born again in the states of woe; anyone doing a good deed would be born again in a happy realm. After this discourse by the Venerable Mahækaccæna, King Madhura, formerly of another faith, took refuge in the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Saĩgha.
(5) Bodhiræjakumæra Sutta
This discourse was given by the Buddha at Susumæragira in the country of Bhagga in connection with the statement made by Prince Bodhi that “sukha, happiness, cannot be attained through sukha; sukha can be attained only through dukkha”. The Buddha said he had also once thought in a similar manner, and recounted the whole story of his renunciation, his struggles with wrong practices, frantic search for the Truth, and ultimate enlightenment. When asked by the prince how long would it take a bhikkhu to achieve, in this very lifetime, the supreme goal of the holy life, Arahatship, the Buddha stipulated five attributes for the aspiring bhikkhu. If he was equipped with five attributes: faith, good health, integrity (not being deceitful), unrelenting zeal, and sufficient intellect to understand the phenomena of ‘arising and passing away’, and having the Tathægata as his instructor and guide, a bhikkhu would achieve the Arahatship within seven years at most. Under the most favourable circumstances he could become accomplished within half a day.
(6) Aģgulimæla Sutta
This discourse, given by the Buddha at Sævatthi, describes how Aģgulimæla, the notorious robber and murderer, was tamed by the Buddha, and how he took refuge in the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Saĩgha. Although he had the name of Ahiĩsaka, Non-violence, he was formerly cruel and murderous and was called Aģgulimæla by people. Being tamed now by the Buddha, he ceased hurting anyone, and started living a life true to his name. He had become an Arahat.
(7) Piyajætika Sutta
A householder of Sævatthi whose son had died went to see the Buddha who told him that dear beloved ones formed a source of sorrow as they brought pain and grief. The householder was displeased with what the Buddha said. Gamblers playing with dice just close by the Buddha’s monastery told him differently. They said that loved ones surely brought joy and happiness. King Pasenadi concurred with the gamblers but his queen Mallikæ maintained that only what the Buddha said must be true. She justified her faith in the Buddha by giving many illustrations of the Buddha’s penetrating and illuminating wisdom. King Pasenadi was finally won over to her view.
(8) Bæhitika Sutta
This discourse was given at Sævatthi by the Venerable Ænanda to King Pasenadi on the bank of the River Aciravatø. He dealt with unwholesome deeds, words and thoughts which were blameworthy and wholesome deeds, words and thoughts which were praiseworthy. King Pasenadi was pleased with the discourse and made a gift of cloth from the country of Bæhiti to the Venerable Ænanda.
(9) Dhammacetiya Sutta
King Pasenadi of Kosala once came to see the Buddha. Entering the dwelling where the Buddha was staying, he fell on his forehead at the feet of the Buddha. When asked by the Buddha why he was showing such extreme humbleness and respect to the body of the Buddha, the king launched eloquently on a eulogy of the Buddha, praising his virtues. The Buddha told his bhikkhus that the words uttered by the king constituted a memorial in honour of the Dhamma and urged them to learn this memorial and recite it frequently.
(10) Kažžakatthala Sutta
This discourse, given by the Buddha at Uruņņæ, contains answers to King Pasenadi Kosala’s questions about four classes of people and their destinations after death, about Sabbaņņuta Ņæža, and about the great Brahmæ.
(1) Brahmæyu Sutta
The Brahmin Brahmæyu was one hundred and twenty years old when he heard of the fame of the Buddha. He sent his disciple Uttara who was well versed in Vedas to find out by examining the thirty-two physical characteristics of a great man whether Gotama was indeed an Enlightened Buddha. On Uttara’s good report testifying to the Buddha having the requisite characteristics of a Buddha, Brahmæyu went himself to see the Buddha. Fully satisfied, after hearing the graduated discourse, that Gotama was indeed an enlightened Buddha, he became a devoted disciple and, achieving the third stage of the Path and Fruition, an Anægæmø before he passed away.
(2) Sela Sutta
Sela was a brahmin of Æpaža market-town, who on hearing about the fame of the Buddha from Kežiya the hermit went to see the Buddha accompanied by three hundred young brahmins. After hearing a discourse from the Buddha he became fully convinced that he had indeed seen a truly enlightened Buddha. All of them requested for and received permission from the Buddha to join the Order.
(3) Assalæyana Sutta
Some five hundred brahmins who had come to Sævatthi on business attempted to challenge the Buddha on his views with regard to the purity and nobility of the four classes of people. They sent Assalæyana, a highly talented young man well-versed in the Vedas, to contest with the Buddha. The young man’s meeting with the Buddha ended up in his conversion.
(4) GhoĨamukha Sutta
A discussion took place between the Venerable Udena and a brahmin by the name of GhoĨamukha on the subject of the practice of the holy life. The Venerable Udena described four kinds of persons engaged in ascetic practices. After the discourse the Brahmin became a disciple of the Venerable Udena and took his refuge in the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Saĩgha.
(5) Caģkø Sutta
Caģkø, a brahmin of Opæsæda Village, came to see the Buddha with a large crowd amongst whom was a young brahmin by the name of KæpæĨika. The young man entered into a discussion with the Buddha about the ‘Three Vedas’ which had been handed down from generation to generation in unbroken tradition. The tradition which the brahmins believed to be the only Truth was likened by the Buddha to a line of blind men each one clinging on to the preceding one.
(6) Esukærø Sutta
This discourse was given at Sævatthi in connection with a brahmin named Esukærø. In this sutta too the Buddha rejected the brahmin classification of society into four classes claiming the highest position for the brahmins. It was not only the brahmins who could develop loving-kindness, free from enmity and ill will. Members of other classes also could develop loving-kindness. It was not birth but the practice of wholesome dhamma that made a person noble.
(7) Dhanaņjæni Sutta
Dhanaņjæni was an old devoted lay disciple of the Buddha. After the death of his first wife who had great faith in the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Saĩgha, he was no longer diligent in and mindful of the practice of dhamma. His second wife was without faith in the Teaching of the Buddha. To maintain his family he resorted to wrongful means of livelihood. The Venerable Særiputta put him back on the right path. On his deathbed, he sent for the Venerable Særiputta who solaced him with the dhamma. This caused him on his death to be reborn in the Brahma world. The Buddha asked the Venerable Særiputta why he had put the old brahmin only on the way to the inferior Brahma world when a higher attainment was possible for him.
(8) VæseĨĨha Sutta
A discussion had arisen between two brahmin youths VæseĨĨha and Bhæradvæja on the origin of a bræhmaža. Bhæradvæja maintained it was birth, lineage and caste that made a person a bræhmaža. VæseĨĨha believed moral conduct and performance of customary duties were essential qualifications to be a bræhmaža. They went to the Buddha for settlement of their dispute.
The Buddha told them that a person was not a bræhmaža just because of his birth if he was full of worldly attachments, or was harnessed to greed, ill will, craving, and ignorance. A person became a bræhmaža whatever his birth, when he had cut off his fetters of defilements, removed the obstacles of ignorance and attained the knowledge of the Four Noble Truths. The most perfect bræhmaža was an Arahat.
(9) Subha Sutta
This discourse was given on account of Subha, son of the brahmin Todeyya, at Sævatthi. Like other brahmins, Subha believed that only householders could accomplish meritorious deeds in a right manner, not those who had gone forth from the household life. The occupation of householders produced great benefits whereas the occupation of the recluse brought little benefits. The Buddha removed his wrong views and Subha became a devoted disciple of the Buddha.
(10) Saģgærava Sutta
Saģgærava was a young brahmin who was full of pride with learning in the Vedas, entertaining wrong views of his birth. He went to ask the Buddha whether the Buddha claimed, like some samažas and bræhmažas, to have attained in this very life, special knowledge and vision, and reached the other shore. The Buddha explained that there were three kinds of samažas and bræhmažas who made such claims: those who made the claim through hearsay, having learnt things by hearsay only; those who made the claim by mere reasoning and logic; and finally those who made the claim by personally realizing the penetrative insight of the Dhamma unheard of before.
The Buddha told Saģgærava that he was of this third type and recounted how he had become accomplished in the dhamma by practice and self-realization.
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