Sayings of the Buddha New Translations from the Pali Nikayas

by Gethin, Rupert

• ISBN13: 9780192839251
• ISBN10: 019283925X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-12-01
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

As more and more westerners study and practice Buddhism, reliable modern translations of the Buddha's teachings are increasingly in demand. One of the main sources for knowledge of the Buddhadharma is the four Pali Nikayas or "collections" of his sayings. Written in Pali, an ancient Indian language closely related to Sanskrit, the Nikayas are among the oldest Buddhist texts and consist of more than one and a half million words. This new translation offers a selection of the Buddha's most important sayings, reflecting the full variety of material contained in the Nikayas: the central themes of the Buddha's teaching (his biography, philosophical discourse, instruction on morality, meditation, and the spiritual life) and the range of literary style (myth, dialogue, narrative, short sayings, verse). This edition is the most critically up-to-date and For anyone seeking a more direct encounter with the Buddha's words and teaching, this new translation will prove to be essential reading, rewarding scholars and practitioners alike.

Author Biography

Rupert Gethin is the author of The Buddhist Path to Awakening and The Foundations of Buddhism.

Table of Contents

Abbreviations
Introduction
Note on the Text and Translation
Select Bibliography
Note on the Pronunciation of Pali and Sanskrit
Map: The Ganges Basin at the Time of the Buddha
Sayings of the Buddha
From the Collection of Long Sayings	p. 3
The Fruits of the Ascetic Life (Samannaphala-sutta)	p. 5
The Buddha's Final Nibbana (Mahaparinibbana-sutta)	p. 37
King Mahasudassana (Mahasudassana-sutta)	p. 98
The Origin of Things (Agganna-sutta)	p. 116
Advice to Sigala (Sigalovada-sutta)	p. 129
From the Collection of Middle-Length Sayings	p. 139
Establishing Mindfulness (Satipatthana-sutta)	p. 141
The Stilling of Thoughts (Vitakkasanthana-sutta)	p. 152
The Simile of the Snake (Alagaddupama-sutta)	p. 156
The Short Dialogue with Malunkya (Cula-Malunkya-sutta)	p. 168
The Dialogue with Prince Bodhi (Bodhirajakumara-sutta)	p. 173
The Analysis of Acts (Maha-Kammavibhanga-sutta)	p. 195
From the Collection of Grouped Sayings	p. 205
From the Chapter with Verses (Sagatha-vagga)	p. 209
From the Chapter on Causes (Nidana-vagga)	p. 210
From the Chapter on the Aggregates (Khandha-vagga)	p. 216
From the Chapter on the Six Sense Spheres (Salayatana-vagga)	p. 222
From the Great Chapter (Maha-vagga)	p. 226
From the Collection of Numbered Sayings	p. 247
From the Section of Ones	p. 250
From the Section of Twos	p. 251
From the Section of Threes	p. 251
From the Section of Fours	p. 256
From the Section of Fives	p. 259
From the Section of Sixes	p. 260
From the Section of Sevens	p. 261
From the Section of Eights	p. 263
From the Section of Nines	p. 265
From the Section of Tens	p. 266
From the Section of Elevens	p. 268
Explanatory Notes	p. 271
Index	p. 293
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