Selected Discourses
Many thousands of discourses were given by the Buddha and his leading disciples. Here you will find some key teachings that every Buddhist should be familiar with. Some PDF files are framed with a decorative border for printing on a single sheet of A4, to use as a poster for daily reflection.
The Buddha spent the rainy season residing in one particular monastery, in the Bamboo Grove at Rājagaha during the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th years of his dispensation, and he often stayed at the Jeta Grove donated by Anāthapiṇḍika in Sāvatthi during the later years. After the rains he would set off on tour with the monks, travelling to towns and villages on foot. In the last period of his life, he walked from Rājagaha to Kusinārā via Pāṭaliputta and Vesāli. This journey is related in the Mahāparinibbāna Sutta.
The Map of India gives some perspective to the life of the Buddha and the monks as they wandered throughout the Ganges valley, or even further afield, to spread the teaching about the direct path to nibbāna.
To read the Pāḷi texts — edited during the Sixth Buddhist Council, in Rangoon — download the CST4 software from Tipitaka.org. Read my review page for help on installing and using it.
The Dhammapada
A collection of 423 verses in 26 chapters, with a brief extract from the Commentary explaining the circumstances behind each verse. The verses are often referenced in other texts. The commentaries are sometimes essential to understand their meaning in context. Click the PDF icon to download it.
Order a hard copy from Motilal Banarsidass.
Paritta Suttas — Protection Discourses
Some discourses commonly recited for protection of danger, disease, and other misfortunes. Includes links to audio and video files.
Dīghanikāya
Selected discourses from the Long Discourses of the Buddha.
Majjhimanikāya
Selected discourses from the Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha.
Aṅguttaranikāya
Selected discourses from the Book of Gradual Sayings or the Numerical Discourses of the Buddha.
Saṃyuttanikāya
Selected discourses from the Book of Kindred Sayings or the Collected Discourses of the Buddha.
Suttanipāta
Selected discourses from the Discourse Collection of the Khuddakanikāya.
Abhabba Suttaṃ — The Possible and the Impossible
Without abandoning nine states it is impossible to realise Arahantship.
Abhayarājakumāra Suttaṃ — A Discourse to Prince Abhaya
Nigaṇṭha Nāṭaputta sends his disciple, Prince Abhaya, to the Buddha with a dilemma that he won’t be able to answer. The Buddha answers the dilemma easily and Prince Abhaya becomes a disciple of the Buddha.
Abhiṇhapaccavekkhitabbaṭhāna Suttaṃ — Facts for Constant Recollection
Five facts that should be recollected constantly by a woman or a man, by a householder or by one gone-forth.
Acinteyya Suttaṃ — Unthinkable
Four matters that should not be thought about.
Āditta Suttaṃ — The Fire Sermon
The Buddha’s discourse to 1,000 Fire-worshipping ascetics led by the three Kassapa brothers on the fiery nature of greed, hatred, and delusion. After the Dhammacakka Sutta, the Hemavata Sutta, and the Anattalakkhaṇa Sutta, this is the fourth discourse taught by the Buddha. It is found in the Vinaya, Mahāvagga, and is there called the Ādittapariyāya Sutta, but in the Saṃyuttanikāya it is called the Āditta Sutta — the Ādittapariyāya Sutta in the Saṃyuttanikāya refers to a different discourse on a similar topic, but with a more detailed exposition.
Āghātapaṭivinaya Suttaṃ — Getting Rid of Resentment
Five methods for getting rid of resentment that has arisen.
Āghātavatthu Suttaṃ — Grounds for Resentment
Nine grounds for resentment.
Aggivaccha Suttaṃ — A Discourse on Fire to Vaccha
A discourse to a wanderer on not clinging to any views.
Āhuneyya Suttaṃ (1) — Worthy of Offerings (1)
Six things that make a monk worthy of offerings.
Akkosa Suttaṃ — A Discourse on Abuse
An abusive brahmin approaches the Blessed One and speak to him rudely with abusive words. The Blessed One does not accept his abuse, and tells him that it remains his own property.
Alabbhanīyaṭhāna Suttaṃ — Five Unattainable Conditions
The different attitudes of uninstructed ordinary persons and Noble Ones when faced with suffering
Āmagandha Suttaṃ — The Stench
The Buddha relates a discourse given by the previous Buddha Kassapa to an ascetic who was a strict vegetarian, who condemned the eating of meat and fish as stench. The Buddha explained that physical, verbal, and mental misdeeds are stench, not the eating of meat or fish.
Ambalaṭṭhika Rāhulovāda Suttaṃ — A Discourse to Rāhula at Ambalaṭṭhikā
The Buddha teaches his son, the newly ordained novice Rāhula, about the dangers of telling deliberate lies, and the importance of reflecting well on one’s physical, verbal, and mental actions.
Anāgatabhaya Suttaṃ — Future Perils (3)
Five perils for the future of the Buddha’s teachings.
Anāgatabhaya Suttaṃ — Future Perils (4)
Five more perils for the future of the Buddha’s teachings.
Ānanda Suttaṃ — A Discourse to Ānanda on the Self
The wanderer Vacchagotta approaches the Blessed One and asks him if he has a self or not. The Buddha does not answer, and explains why when the Venerable Ānanda asks him after the wanderer has left.
Anāthapiṇḍika Suttaṃ — The young deity Anāthapiṇḍika visits the Buddha
The young deity Anāthapiṇḍika visits the Buddha at the Jeta grove and speaks in praise of the Venerable Sāriputta.
Anattalakkhaṇa Suttaṃ — The Discourse on Not-self
The Buddha’s third discourse (the second was the Hemavata Sutta), given to his first five disciples. After listening to the discourse, they all became Arahants.
Andha Suttaṃ — The Blind
Three individuals are found in the world: the blind, the one-eyed, and the two-eyed.
Aṅgulimāla Suttaṃ — A Discourse to Aṅgulimāla
The story of Aṅgulimāla’s conversion and attainment of Arahantship.
Ānisaṃsa Suttaṃ — Benefits
Six benefits of attaining Stream-winning.
Anuruddha Mahāvitakka Suttaṃ — Eight Thoughts of a Great Man
Eight essential characteristics of a wise man who could fully understand the Buddha’s teaching.
Appahāya Suttaṃ — Without Abandoning
Without abandoning six things it is impossible to attain right-view.
Appamāda Suttaṃ — Heedfulness
Four occasions when heedfulness should be practised.
Appaṃ Supati Suttaṃ — Sleeping Little
Five who sleep little at night.
Asappurisadāna Suttaṃ — The Gift of a Bad Man
Five gifts of a bad man.
Apaṇṇaka Suttaṃ — The Incontrovertible Discourse
An extract from a discourse of the Majjhimanikāya, teaching sceptics how to choose a wise course to follow.
Āraññika Suttaṃ — Forest-Dwellers
Five kinds of forest-dwellers
Asibandhakaputta Suttaṃ — A Discourse to Asibandhakaputta
The Buddha teaches a village headman that one’s destiny after death does not depend on rituals performed at his death-bed or funeral, but on his behaviour during his life.
Assaddha Suttaṃ — One Without Faith
The Buddha teaches the monks about the bad man and one inferior to the bad man, about the good man and one superior to the good man.
Attadaṇḍa Suttaṃ — Taking Up A Weapon
At one time the Buddha’s relatives, the Sakyans, were taking up arms to fight with their neighbours, the Koliyā, over the irrigation waters of the river Rohiṇī, which divided their territories. The Buddha admonished them, asking them which was more valuable, blood or water, and thus the conflict was averted.
Aṭṭhakanipāta — The Book of Eights
Selected chapters from the eighth book of the gradual sayings or numerical discourses (Aṅguttaranikāya).
Avajānātisuttaṃ — One Who Despises
Five individuals who despise another.
Avaṇṇāraha Suttaṃ — Worthy of Blame
Four things that lead to hell and four that lead to heaven.
Bala Suttaṃ — Powers
Five powers.
Bala Suttaṃ — Powers
Six powers that make a monk worthy of offerings
Bala Suttaṃ (1) — Powers
Eight powers possessed by different kinds of people.
Bala Suttaṃ (2) — Powers
Eight powers of one who has destroyed the outflows.
Bandhana Suttaṃ — Binding (1)
Eight things that bind a man to a woman
Bhaddekaratta Suttaṃ — A Single Excellent Night
The Buddha teaches how one should not long for the past, anticipate the future, not get caught up in the present.
Bhallikādi Suttāni — Bhallika and Others
Eminent lay disciples endows with six things.
Bhariyā Suttaṃ — Wives
The Buddha teaches Sujātā, the daughter-in-law of Anāthapiṇḍika, about the seven kinds of wives.
Bīja Suttaṃ — The Seed
Wrong-view and right-view are the source of all fruits.
Bodhirājakumāra Suttaṃ — A Discourse to Prince Bodhi
The Buddha relates his renunciation, ascetic practices, and enlightenment to refute the statement by Prince Bodhi that happiness is to be gained through suffering.
Bhojana Suttaṃ — Food
Five benefits of giving food.
Brāhmaṇadhammika Suttaṃ — The Good Conduct of the Brahmin
The Buddha teaches a group of elderly and wealthy brahmins about the noble conduct of the brahmins of ancient times, which had declined by the time of the Buddha.
Brahmāyācana Suttaṃ — Brahma’s Request
Brahma Sahampati approaches the Buddha just after his Enlightenment and requests him to teach.
Byasana Suttaṃ — Losses
Five losses and five gains: relatives, wealth, health, morality, and view.
Byasana Suttaṃ — Disasters
Eleven disasters suffered by one who abuses the Noble Ones.
Caṇḍala Suttaṃ — The Outcaste
The behaviour that leads to becoming an “outcaste,” a person who should be shunned by good and wise followers of the Buddha.
Caṅkama Suttaṃ — Walking Medition
The five benefits of walking meditation.
Caṅkī Suttaṃ — A Discourse to Caṅkī
An elderly Mahāsāla Brahmin approaches the Buddha with his followers, and a sixteen-year-old student of his engages in a dialogue with the Buddha.
Catukkanipāta — The Book of Fours
Selected chapters from the fourth book of the gradual sayings or numerical discourses (Aṅguttaranikāya).
Cetanākaraṇīya Suttaṃ — Nought to do Regarding Volition
The arising of insight is a natural process when suitable conditions are present.
Chakkanipāta — The Book of Sixes
Selected chapters from the sixth book of the gradual sayings or numerical discourses (Aṅguttaranikāya).
Chappāṇakopama Suttaṃ — The Simile of the Six Animals
The Buddha teaches the monks about restraint of the six sense faculties through cultivating mindfulness of the body.
Cīvara Suttaṃ — Robes
Five kinds of rag-robe wearers … tree-root dwellers … cemetery dwellers … open-air dwellers … sitters … any bed users … single-session eaters … later food refusers … five kinds of almsfood-eaters. Five reasons why monks observe the ascetic practices including five kinds of forest-dwellers.
Ciraṭṭhiti Suttaṃ — The Duration of the True Dhamma
The Venerable Bhadda asks the Venerable Ānanda the reasons for the short or long duration of the true Dhamma.
Cora Suttaṃ — The Thief
Eight reasons why a great thief does not last long
Cūḷadukkhakkhandha Suttaṃ — The Lesser Discourse on the Mass of Suffering
An explanation of the satisfaction and misery of sensual pleasures.
Cūḷakammavibhaṅga Suttaṃ — The Lesser Discourse on the Analysis of Kamma
The exposition of the Buddha’s teaching on ownership of one’s kamma (volitional actions).
Cūḷamālukya Suttaṃ — The Lesser Discourse to Mālukyaputta
The Buddha gives the Simile of the Poisoned Arrow to show that the Dhamma is taught only for the sake of liberation from suffering.
Cūḷapuṇṇama Suttaṃ — The Lesser Discourse on the Full Moon
The Buddha teaches the monks the difference between good and bad men.
Cūḷasaccaka Suttaṃ — The Lesser Discourse to Saccaka
Saccaka dares to debate with the Buddha about the soul and suffers a humiliating defeat.
Dahara Suttaṃ — The Young
The Buddha teaches King Pasenadi of Kosala about four things that should be respected in spite of their youth.
Dakkhiṇāvibhaṅga Suttaṃ — An Exposition of Gifts
The Buddha explains to Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī the relative benefit of gifts to different individuals and to the Saṅgha.
Dāna Suttaṃ — Giving (1)
Eight kinds of gift.
Dāna Suttaṃ — Giving (3)
Eight reasons for giving.
Dantakaṭṭha Suttaṃ — Tooth Sticks
Five advantages of using a tooth stick to clean the teeth.
Dārukkhandhopama Suttaṃ — The Simile of the Log
The first of two nearly identical discourses comparing reaching the goal of nibbāna to a drifting log in the Ganges reaching the ocean if nothing intervenes to prevent it.
Dasakanipāta — Book of Tens
Selected chapters from the tenth book of the gradual sayings or numerical discourses (Aṅguttaranikāya).
Devadūta Suttaṃ — The Heavenly Messengers
The Buddha teaches the monks about the five heavenly messengers.
Dhammika Suttaṃ — Skilful Practice
This discourse from the Suttanipāta describes the correct practice for a disciple who is a monk or a householder. It covers the observance of the Uposatha for householders during the Rains Retreat.
Dhotaka Māṇava Pucchā — The Questions of Dhotaka
The brahmin student Dhotaka asks the Blessed One to liberate him from doubt.
Dīghanakha Suttaṃ — A Discourse to Dīghanakha
The Buddha teaches “Long Nails,” the nephew of the Venerable Sāriputta, about relinquishing views.
Dīghāvu Vatthu — The Story of Dīghāvu
The Buddha relates a story from the distant past in an attempt to reconcile the monks of Kosambī, who were disputing over a minor rule of discipline.
Duccaritavipāka Suttaṃ — The Results of Misconduct
The least results of eight unwholesome deeds if reborn again as a human being.
Dukanipāta — Book of Twos
Selected chapters from the second book of the gradual sayings or numerical discourses (Aṅguttaranikāya).
Ekanipāta — Book of Ones
Selected chapters from the first book of the gradual sayings or numerical discourses (Aṅguttaranikāya).
Gaṇḍa Suttaṃ — Abscess
The body has nine orifices like abscesses.
Ghaṭikāra Suttaṃ — The Potter
While wandering in the Kosala kingdom, the Buddha smiles at a point beside the path, and when questioned by the Venerable Ānanda, relates his previous life as Jotipāla when he was a dear friend of Ghaṭikāra, and when he went forth as a monk.
Girimānanda Suttaṃ — A Discourse to Girimānanda
The Buddha teaches the ten perceptions to the Venerable Ānanda, which he repeats to the Venerable Girimānanda, who is thus cured of a serious disease.
Gītassara Suttaṃ — A Musical Intonation
A warning by the Buddha on how not to chant the sacred discourses. When recited as they often are these days, the audience fails to pay attention to the meaning, and becomes distracted by listening to the sound only.
Gotamī Suttaṃ — A Discourse to Gotamī
Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī requests the going-forth and eventually obtains it by accepting the eight weighty rules after the intervention of Ānanda on her behalf.
Gūthabhāṇī Suttaṃ — A Speaker of Excrement
Three individuals are found in the world: a speaker of excrement, a speaker of flowers, and a speaker of honey.
Hatthaka Suttaṃ — The Eight Wonderful and Marvellous Qualities of Hatthaka
Hatthaka Suttaṃ — A Discourse to Hatthaka on the Four Bases of Harmony
Hatthaka Suttaṃ — A Discourse to Hatthaka Devaputta
To Hatthaka Devaputta after his rebirth in the Pure Abode of Avihā.
Isidatta Sutta — A Discourse by Isidatta Thera
The Venerable Isidatta teaches the householder Citta about the origin of the sixty-two wrong-views.
Issatta Sutta — The Archer
On giving gifts to gain great fruit, to King Pasenadi
Jāṇussoṇi Sutta — Offerings to the Departed
The Brahmin Jāṇussoṇi visits the Buddha and asks whether gifts and rites for the departed are of any benefit.
Jarā Sutta — Aging
One who lives a hundred years lives for a long time, but all must die of old age. Therefore avoid the household life and do not cling to anything thinking, “It is mine.”
Jaṭā Suttaṃ — The Tangle
A matted-hair brahmin approaches the Blessed One and asks him in verse who can disentangle the tangle in which the current generation is entangled.
Jīvaka Suttaṃ — A Discourse to Jīvaka
Two discourses given to the physician of King Bimbisāra (and later the physician of the Buddha and Saṅgha). The first is on the eating of meat; the second on the good practice for a lay disciple.
Kakacūpama Suttaṃ — The Simile of the Saw
The Buddha teaches the Venerable Moliya Phagguna about the importance of practising patience, even when spoken to harshly by others.
Kāma Suttaṃ — A Discourse on Sensual Pleasures
A brahmin farmer, having promised to offer alms, has his crop destroyed by a flood, and is greatly disappointed at his lost opportunity. The Buddha teaches him about the dangers of sensual pleasures, and he becomes a Stream-winner.
Kāmaguṇa Suttaṃ — The Strands of Sensual Pleasure
Five strands of sensual pleasure and four things to develop to overcome them.
Kammanidāna Suttaṃ — The Origin of Kamma
Ten kinds of unwholesome kamma, each with three origins.
Kasibhāradvāja Suttaṃ — A Discourse to the Farmer Bhāradvāja
The Buddha teaches a farmer how he ploughs and farms the fruit of the deathless.
Kathāvatthu Suttaṃ — Topics for Discussion
How to decide if someone is fit to discuss with or unfit to discuss with.
Kesamutti Suttaṃ — A Discourse to the Kālāmā
More commonly known as the “Kālāma Sutta,” this is the Buddha’s advice on how to make a thorough investigation of the teachings. It is often misquoted as a “free-thinker’s charter” to reject any teaching that doesn’t agree with logical reasoning, or with “common-sense.” A closer examination of this discourse shows that “logical reasoning” and “common-sense” are not to be trusted either. One should make a thorough inquiry by experimentation.
Kesi Suttaṃ — The Horse Trainer
A warning to his disciples on always remaining open to instruction and admonishment by one’s fellow monks and well-wishers.
Kevaṭṭa Suttaṃ — A Discourse to Kevaṭṭa
The Buddha teaches about the three kinds of mystic wonder to a devout follower from Nāḷandā.
Khema Suttaṃ — A Discourse to Khema
Two Arahants, Khema and Sumana, come to the Buddha and ask him if Arahants consider themselves superior, inferior, or equal to others. The Buddha approves of their statements.
Khettūpama Suttaṃ — The Simile of the Fields
The Buddha teachings the headman Asibandhakaputta how he is compassionate to all beings although teaching in greater detail to his ordained disciples than to lay-disciples or those of other views.
Khuddakapāṭha — The Short Passages
This is the first book of the Khuddakanikāya. It is a collection of verses and discourses that a newly ordained novice should be taught.
Kimila Suttaṃ — A Discourse to Kimila
The six causes for the decline of the Buddha’s teaching, and six for its longevity.
Kimila Suttaṃ — A Discourse to Kimila
The seven causes for the decline of the Buddha’s teaching, and seven for its longevity.
Kīṭāgiri Suttaṃ — At Kīṭāgiri
A discourse to the shameless group of monks who were followers of Assaji and Punabbasu. They were guilty of many kinds of misbehaviour such as growing flowers, making garlands, giving them as presents to women, eating at the wrong time, using perfumes, visiting shows, singing, and playing games. They were admonished as “Corrupters of families,” who liked their behaviour.
Kula Suttaṃ — Compassion for Families
The headman Asibandhakaputta, a disciple of Nigaṇṭha Nāṭaputta, dares to question the Buddha’s compassion for families when begging for alms during a famine.
Kula Suttaṃ — Approaching Families
The Buddha teaches the monks nine reasons why families are not worth approaching, or having approached not sitting down with to teach Dhamma.
Lekha Suttaṃ — Writing
Three kinds of individuals: one like writing carved in stone, one like writing scratched on the ground, one like writing traced in water.
Loṇakapalla Suttaṃ — A Ladle of Salt
An important discourse on how kamma gives different results for different individuals.
Māgaṇḍiya Suttaṃ — Māgaṇḍiya
A brahmin offers his daughter in marriage to the Blessed One. He rejects the offer and teaches this discourse. The brahmin and his wife attain Arahantship, but their daughter harbours a grudge.
Mahācattārīsaka Suttaṃ — The Great Forty
An explanation of wrong-view, mundane right-view, and supramundane right-view.
Mahācunda Suttaṃ — A Discourse by Mahācunda
Mahācunda admonishes learned monks not to disparage meditators, and meditators not to disparage learned monks, but to praise each other.
Mahānāma Suttaṃ — A Discourse to Mahānāma
The Buddha teaches the six recollections to Mahānāma the Sakyan.
Mahāparinibbāna Suttaṃ
See An Exposition of the Mahāparinibbāna Sutta
Mahāsatipaṭṭhāna Suttaṃ — The Greater Discourse on the Foundations of Mindfulness
The Buddha teaches the monks the only way to nibbāna.
Mahāsīhanāda Suttaṃ — The Greater Discourse on the Lion’s Roar
The Buddha declares his Ten Powers of a Tathāgata after Sunakkhatta leaves the Order and makes public claims that the Buddha has no direct knowledge (abhiññā), but relies on reasoning.
Mahāsuññāta Suttaṃ — On Voidness
A brief extract from the »» Mahasuññata Suttaṃ, with the Buddha’s advice to Ānanda for monks to cultivate seclusion, and to avoid socialising.
Mahātaṇhāsaṅkhaya Suttaṃ — The Greater Discourse on the Destruction of Craving
The Buddha admonishes Bhikkhu Sāti who clings to an eternalistic view regarding the transmigration of consciousness.
Mala Suttaṃ — Stains
Eight stains of sacred verses, of houses, of beauty, of a guard, of a woman, of a donor, etc.
Mallikādevī Suttaṃ — To Queen Mallikā
Queen Mallikā, the beloved young queen of King Pasenadi of Kosala, approached the Buddha and asked him about the causes of beauty, wealth, and influence.
Mālukyaputta Suttaṃ — A Discourse to Mālukyaputta
An elderly monk comes to the Buddha and asks for brief meditation instructions. The Buddha teaches him the practice of bare awareness: “When you see, just know that you see it …”
Maṇicūḷaka Suttaṃ — To Maṇicūḷaka
On the acceptance of money by monks.
Methuna Suttaṃ — Sexual Intercourse
The seven corruptions of the celibate life.
Mettānisaṃsā Suttaṃ — The Benefits of Loving-kindness
The eleven benefits of constantly practising loving-kindness.
Migasālā Suttaṃ — Do not Judge Others
The female lay disciple Migasālā asks the Venerable Ānanda why her father, who was a celibate priest, and Isidatta, who was not celibate, both Once-returners attained the Tusita heaven after death. The Buddha explains to Venerable Ānanda that an ordinary person cannot judge others.
Nakhasikhā Suttaṃ — The Dust on a Fingernail
The Buddha shows by comparing the dust on the tip of a fingernail to the entire earth how few human beings regain human rebirth again after death, and how little suffering remains for one who has attained Stream-winning compared to one who has not.
Nakulapitu Suttaṃ — Nakula’s Father
Nakulamātā exhorts her husband who is ill with a serious disease, and he recovers.
Nālanda Suttaṃ — Sāriputta’s Lion’s Roar
The Venerable Sāriputta declares his faith that there has never been, will never be, nor is there now any recluse or priest more enlightened than the Blessed One.
Navakanipāta — The Book of Nines
Selected chapters from the ninth book of the gradual sayings or numerical discourses (Aṅguttaranikāya).
Nīvaraṇa Suttaṃ — The Hindrances
The five hindrances and the four things to develop to overcome them.
Niraya Suttaṃ — Hell (1)
Six things that drag one to hell.
Okkhā Suttaṃ — Pots of Food
Practising meditation on loving-kindness is more meritorious than giving alms.
Pabbajita Abhiṇha Suttaṃ — Facts for Constant Recollection by One Gone-forth
Ten facts that one gone-forth should recollect constantly.
Pacalāyamāna Suttaṃ — Falling Asleep
The Buddha exhorts Mahāmoggallāna, teaching him seven methods for staying awake. He then attains Arahantship just seven days after his ordination.
Padhāna Suttaṃ — The Four Right Efforts
Striving to remove and prevent unwholesome states, to arouse and maintain wholesome states.
Padhāna Suttaṃ — Striving
The Bodhisatta battles with Māra on the eve of his Enlightenment.
Padhāniyaṅga Suttaṃ — Factors for Striving
Five factors for striving.
Pañcakanipāta — The Book of Fives
Selected chapters from the fifth book of the gradual sayings or numerical discourses (Aṅguttaranikāya).
Pañcamacchariya Suttaṃ — Miserliness
Five kinds of miserliness regarding dwellings, families, gains, praise, and the Dhamma.
Parābhava Suttaṃ — The Causes of Downfall
The antithesis to the Maṅgala Sutta on Blessings, also taught to a deity at Sāvatthi.
Parihāna Suttaṃ — Decline
Eight causes for the decline of a monk in training.
Pasūra Suttaṃ — Disputes
A wandering debater is defeated by Venerable Sāriputta, ordains, defeats the Venerable Lāḷudāyī, then dares to debate with the Buddha, but cannot utter a word.
Paṭhama Samādhi Suttaṃ — Concentration (1)
Four individuals with concentration.
Paṭhama Agati Suttaṃ — The Four Wrong Courses
The four reasons for taking the wrong course of action.
Paṭhama Khata Suttaṃ — Uprooted (1)
Endowed with four things a fool remains uprooted and destroyed.
Pāṭhika Suttaṃ — Sunakkhatta and Psychic Powers
The Buddha relates the events leading to Sunakkhatta leaving the Order.
Pātubhāva Suttaṃ — Appearance
Six things that rarely appear in the world
Pattanikujjana Suttaṃ — Overturning the Almsbowl
Eight reasons to overturn the almsbowl for a lay disciple.
Paṭṭhānuddesa — Conditional Relations
This is the introduction to the Paṭṭhāna of the Abhidhamma Piṭaka, enumerating the twenty-four types of conditional relations: Root Condition (hetupaccayo), Object Condition (ārammaṇapaccayo), etc.
Pāyāsi Suttaṃ — A Debate with Prince Pāyāsi
Kumāra Kassapa debates with the sceptical Prince Pāyāsi and persuades him to renounce his pernicious wrong-view that there is no after-life and no result of kamma.
Potaliya Suttaṃ — A Discourse to Potaliya
A wanderer is annoyed when the Buddha refers to him as a householder, as he has abandoned a householder’s way of life. The Buddha explains how one cuts off all the affairs of a householder in the discipline of the Noble Ones.
Puggala Suttaṃ — Individuals
Seven kinds of individuals who are worthy of offerings, worthy of hospitality, etc.
Puṇṇovāda Suttaṃ — An Admonition to Puṇṇa
Venerable Puṇṇa asks the Buddha for a brief admonishment before setting off for his home district of Sunāparanta. The Buddha questions him to see if he has the necessary qualities to live in that hostile region.
Rathavinīta Suttaṃ — The Relay of Chariots
A discourse between the Venerable Sāriputta and the Venerable Puṇṇa Mantāṇiputta on the seven stages of purification.
Sabbāsava Suttaṃ — A Discourse on All of the Outflows
A discourse on how to abandon all of the outflows (āsavā) using seven different methods.
Sacetana Suttaṃ — The Chariot Maker
A charming story of a previous life (Jātaka) from the Gradual Sayings advising how to do things thoroughly, not hastily.
Saddhammasammosa Suttaṃ — Disappearance of the True Dhamma (1)
Five things leading to the decline and disappearance of the true Dhamma.
Sādhu Suttaṃ — Meritorious
Ten demeritorious deeds, and ten meritorious deeds.
Sakka Suttaṃ — To the Sakyans on the Uposatha
The Buddha urges his relatives, the Sakyans, to fully observe the Uposatha.
Sāleyyaka Suttaṃ — A Discourse to the Brahmins of Sālā
A teaching on the unrighteous conduct that leads to rebirth in the lower realms after death, and the righteous conduct that leads to rebirth wherever one wishes.
Salla Suttaṃ — The Arrow
A discourse from the Suttanipāta on the removal of grief.
Samaṇasaññā Suttaṃ — The Perceptions of a Recluse
Three perceptions that fulfil seven things.
Saṃkhitta Suttaṃ — A Brief Discourse to Gotamī
The Buddha’s advice to his step-mother, who was the first Bhikkhuṇī, on how to distinguish Dhamma from what is not Dhamma.
Saṃvejanīya Suttaṃ — Inspiring Places to Visit
The four holy sites to be visited by Buddhists.
Saṃyojana Suttaṃ — Fetters
The five lower and higher fetters.
Sandiṭṭhika Suttaṃ — Visible by Oneself
The wanderer Moḷiyasīvaka visits the Buddha and asks how the Dhamma’s qualities are verifiable.
Saṅghabheda Suttaṃ — The Schism
Ten factors constituting a schism in the community
Saṅghabhedaka Suttaṃ — The Schismatic
The Buddha questions the Venerable Ānanda about the schism at Kosambī and relates the four advantages seen in schism by a wicked monk.
Saṅkhatalakkhaṇa Suttaṃ — The Characteristics of the Conditioned
The three characteristics of the conditioned. The following discourse, the Asaṅkhatalakkhaṇa Suttaṃ gives the three opposite characteristics of the unconditioned. Bhikkhu Bodhi’s translation combines these two suttas (47 and 48) into one, so the numbering of suttas in the Tikanipāta misaligns after this.
Saññā Suttaṃ — Perceptions (1)
Five perceptions of great benefit.
Saññā Suttaṃ — Perceptions (2)
Five more perceptions of great benefit.
Saññā Suttaṃ — Perceptions (3)
Seven perceptions of great benefit.
Sappurisa Suttaṃ (1) — A Good Man
Four qualities that distinguish a good man and a bad man.
Sappurisa Suttaṃ (2) - A Good Man
When a good man is born into a family it brings blessings to many.
Sappurisadāna Suttaṃ — The Gift of a Good Man
He gives a gift with faith, he gives a gift with respect, he gives a gift at the right time, he gives a gift without clinging, unreservedly, he gives a gift without harming himself or others.
Sārandada Suttaṃ — At the Sārandada Shrine
Five treasures that are rare and difficult to get in the world.
Sārandada Suttaṃ — At the Sārandada Shrine
The Buddha teaches the Licchavī about the seven factors of non-decline
Sattajaṭila Suttaṃ — The Seven Matted-hair Ascetics
King Pasenadi of Kosala pays respects to a group of ascetics who pass by while he is attending on the Buddha and asks if they are Arahants.
Sattakanipāta — The Book of Sevens
Selected chapters from the seventh book of the gradual sayings or numerical discourses (Aṅguttaranikāya).
Sattakamma Suttaṃ — Seven Volitional Actions
The Buddha teaches the monks about the bad man and the good man.
Satthusāsana Suttaṃ — The Teacher’s Dispensation
The Buddha teaches Upāli in brief
Sedaka Suttaṃ — A Discourse at Sedaka
An acrobat and his apprentice perform tricks on a bamboo pole. The Buddha instructs the monks to protect themselves by practising mindfulness, thus they will protect others.
Sekha Suttaṃ — The Trainee
Six things leading to the decline of a trainee.
Seyyā Suttaṃ — Lying Down
Four ways of lying down: that of the hungry ghost, the sensualist, the lion, and the Tathāgata.
Sīha Suttaṃ — A Discourse to Sīha
The Buddha teaches General Sīha, a disciple of the Nigaṇṭhā (Jains), who then becomes a disciple and a Stream-winner. He invites the Saṅgha for the meal and offers them various kinds of hard and soft food including meat. The Nigaṇṭhā blame him, but he is indifferent to their slander.
Sīhanāda Suttaṃ — Discourse on the Lion’s Roar
The Buddha gives ten reasons why he makes the lion’s roar in assemblies.
Sikkhādubbalya Suttaṃ — Weaknesses in the Training
Five weaknesses and four things to develop to overcome them.
Siṅgāla Suttaṃ — The Lay Person’s Discipline
An important discourse on social responsibilities.
Sīvaka Suttaṃ — A Discourse to Sīvaka
The Buddha teaches the wanderer Sīvaka, refuting the wrong view of fatalism.
Somā Suttaṃ — Bhikkhunī Somā Rebukes Māra
When Bhikkhuṇī Somā enters the Blind Man’s grove for meditation, Māra approaches her and tries to frighten her to disrupt her concentration.
Soṇa Suttaṃ — Dogs
Five ancient Brahmin practices maintained by dogs, but not by Brahmins of the Buddha’s era.
Sukha Suttaṃ — Happiness (1)
Venerable Sāriputta teaches a wanderer what is happiness and what is suffering.
Sukhumāla Suttaṃ — Delicate
The Buddha describes three sights that led to his renunciation of the life of extreme delicacy and comfort that he enjoyed as a Bodhisatta.
Suppavāsā Suttaṃ — A Discourse to Suppavāsā
The four benefits gained by a giver.
Sutavā Suttaṃ — A Discourse to Sutavā
Nine things that an Arahant cannot possibly do (includes the Sajjha Suttaṃ with a different list of nine things).
Suvidūra Suttaṃ — Very Distant
Four pairs that are very distant from each other.
Tālapuṭa Suttaṃ — A Discourse to Tālapuṭa
An actor asks the Buddha about the destiny of actors after death.
Taṇhāmūlaka Suttaṃ — Rooted in Craving
The nine things rooted in craving.
Tapussa Suttaṃ — Tapussa
Tapussa, the first lay disciple is endowed with six things
Tikanipāta — Book of Threes
Selected chapters from the third book of the gradual sayings or numerical discourses (Aṅguttaranikāya).
Titthāyatanādi Suttaṃ — A Discourse on Heretical Views
The Buddha refutes the three wrong-views of fatalism, creationism, and nihilism, and declares his own teaching, which cannot be refuted.
Udakūpamā Suttaṃ — The Simile of Water
Seven kinds of individuals submerged in water.
Udāyī Suttaṃ — Udāyī
Five things to establish before teaching the Dhamma.
Ūmibhaya Suttaṃ — The Peril of Waves
The four perils faced by newly ordained monks.
Upakkilesa Suttaṃ — Defilements
Defiled by four defilements the sun and moon do not shine; defiled by four defilements, recluses do not shine.
Upāli Suttaṃ — A Discourse to Upāli
The Buddha teaches Upāli ten reasons for laying down the training rules.
Uposatha Suttaṃ — The Uposatha
The Buddha teaches Visākhā about the three kinds of Uposatha, how to observe it properly, and what the benefits are.
Vācā Suttaṃ — Speech
Five attributes of well-spoken speech.
Vajirā Suttaṃ — Bhikkhunī Vajirā Rebukes Māra
When Bhikkhuṇī Vajirā enters the Blind Man’s grove for meditation, Māra approaches her and tries to frighten her to disrupt her concentration.
Valāhaka Suttaṃ — Storm Clouds (1)
Four individuals like four storm clouds.
Valāhaka Suttaṃ — Storm Clouds (2)
Four kinds of storm clouds.
Vaṇijjā Suttaṃ — Trading
The reasons for failure and success in business.
Vaṇijjā Suttaṃ — Businesses
Five wrong-livelihood for Buddhists.
Vapakāsa Suttaṃ — Living Apart
Five things that determine whether a monk should live alone.
Vasala Suttaṃ — The Outcaste
The Buddha teaches a fire-worship brahmin about the moral defects that make someone an outcaste.
Vāsijaṭa Suttaṃ — The Adze Handle
The Buddha gives similes of hatching eggs, wearing away the handle of an adze, and the rotting of a ship’s rigging to describe the progress of purification.
Velāma Suttaṃ — A Discourse About Velāma
The Buddha teaches Anāthapiṇḍika about the benefits of giving even poor quality almsfood.
Vesāli Suttaṃ — A Discourse at Vesāli
A large number of monks commit suicide, or murder one another, due to disgust with the human body. This is also the introductory story to the third offence of defeat for monks — killing a human being.
Vivādamūla Suttaṃ — The Roots of Contention
The Buddha teaches the monks the six roots of contention.
Vivādamūla Suttaṃ (2) — The Roots of Contention
The Buddha teaches Upāli the ten roots of contention.
Yodhājīva Suttaṃ — The Warrior
See footnote 1 to the Tālapuṭa Sutta.
Yuganaddha Suttaṃ — In Tandem
Four possible ways to reach Arahantship