Exploring the Word of the Buddha

Taught by Bhikkhu Bodhi

January 2003 — December 2007

 

Introduction

An introduction to the organization of the Pali Canon and to some of the background conditions in India from which the Suttas arose.

  1. Introduction Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi

I.  The Buddha’s Enlightenment

In this first part of the course, we will examine several suttas that help clarify the impetus behind the Buddha’s quest and the content of his enlightenment experience. The basic text is MN* 26, but we will make excursions to other texts that bring into finer focus aspects of his quest and enlightenment treated only concisely in MN 26:

  1. MN 26. Ariyapariyesanā Sutta: The Noble Search
  2. MN 4. Bhayabherava Sutta: Fear and Dread
  3. MN 36. Mahāsaccaka Sutta: The Greater Discourse to Saccaka, (paragraphs 12-44)
  4. Optional: MN 12. Mahāsīhanāda Sutta: The Greater Discourse on the Lion’s Roar, (paragraphs 44-63)

  1. MN 26. Ariyapariyesana Sutta: The Noble Search Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
  2. MN 4. Bhayabherava Sutta: Fear & Terror (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
  3. MN 4. Bhayabherava Sutta: Fear & Terror (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
  4. MN 36. Mahasaccaka Sutta: The Longer Discourse to Saccaka (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
  5. MN 36. Mahasaccaka Sutta (part 2), MN 26. Ariyapariyesana Sutta: The Noble Search Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi

II. Approaching the Dhamma

  1. Making wise choices
  2. AN 3:65. Kālāma Sutta: To the Kālāmas (handout)
    MN 60. Apaṇṇaka Sutta: The Incontrovertible Teachings (handout)

  3. Test the Buddha himself
  4. MN 47. Vimaṃsaka Sutta: The Inquirer

  5. Faith, practice, and attainment
  6. MN 95. Cankī Sutta: With Cankī

  1. AN 3.65. Kalama Sutta: To the Kalamas Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
  2. MN 60.The Incontrovertible Teachings (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
  3. MN 60. The Incontrovertible Teachings (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
  4. MN 47. The Inquirer Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
  5. MN 95. With Canki (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
  6. MN 95. With Canki (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi

III.  The Ethical Life

  1. Four ways of life
  2. MN 46. Mahādhammasamādāna Sutta: The Greater Discourse on Ways of Undertaking Things

  3. Karma and its results
  4. MN 57. Kukkuravatika Sutta: The Dog-Duty Ascetic
    MN 135. Cūḷakammavibhanga Sutta: The Shorter Exposition of Action (handout)

  5. The path to a higher rebirth
  6. MN 41. Sāleyyaka Sutta: The Brahmins of Sālā
    Optional: MN 120. Sankhārupapatti Sutta: Reappearance by Aspiration

  7. Right speech and patience
  8. MN 61. Ambalaṭṭhikārāhulovāda Sutta: Advice to Rāhula at Ambalaṭṭhikā
    MN 21. Kakacūpama Sutta: The Simile of the Saw

  1. MN 46. Mahādhammasamādāna Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2013 Bodhi Monastery)
  2. MN 46. Mahādhammasamādāna Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2013 Bodhi Monastery)
  3. MN 57. Kukkuravatika Sutta Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2013 Bodhi Monastery)
  4. MN 135. Cūḷakammavibhanga Sutta Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2013 Bodhi Monastery)
  5. MN 41. Sāleyyaka Sutta Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2013 Bodhi Monastery)
  6. MN 61. Ambalaṭṭhikārāhulovāda Sutta Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2013 Bodhi Monastery)
  7. MN 21. Kakacūpama Sutta Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2013 Bodhi Monastery)

IV. Deepening One’s Perspective on the World

  1. The faults of the worldly life
  2. MN 13. Mahādukkhakkhandha Sutta: The Greater Discourse on the Mass of Suffering

  3. The shortcomings in sensual pleasures
  4. MN 54. Potaliya Sutta: To Potaliya
    MN 75. Māgandiya Sutta: To Māgandiya

  5. The misery of saṃsāra
  6. SN 15. Anamataggasaṃyutta: Connected Discourses on Without Discoverable Beginning, selected suttas (handout)

  7. Raṭṭhapāla and the call to renunciation
  8. MN 82. Raṭṭhapāla Sutta: On Raṭṭhapāla

  1. MN 13. Mahādukkhakkhanda Sutta Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2013 Bodhi Monastery)
  2. MN 54. Potaliya Sutta Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2013 Bodhi Monastery)
  3. MN 75. Māgandiya Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2013 Bodhi Monastery)
  4. MN 75. Māgandiya Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2013 Bodhi Monastery)
  5. SN 15. Anamatagga Saṁyutta Sutta Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2013 Bodhi Monastery)
  6. MN 82. Raṭṭhapāla Sutta Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2013 Bodhi Monastery)

V.  The Path to Liberation (General)

  1. The purpose of the spiritual life
  2. MN 63. Cuḷamālunkya Sutta: The Shorter Discourse to Mālunkyāputta
    MN 29. Mahāsāropama Sutta: The Greater Discourse on the Simile of the Heartwood

  3. The gradual training
  4. MN 27. Cūḷahatthipadopama Sutta: The Shorter Discourse on the Simile of the Elephant’s Footprint (handout-1,handout-2,handout-3)
    MN 39. Mahā-Assapura Sutta: The Greater Discourse at Assapura

  5. What makes one a monk?
  6. MN 40. Cūḷa-Assapura Sutta: The Shorter Discourse at Assapura

  7. The benefits of virtue
  8. MN 6. Ākankheyya Sutta: If a Bhikkhu Should Wish

  9. Purifying the mind
  10. MN 19. Dvedhāvitakka Sutta: Two Kinds of Thought
    MN 20. Vitakkasaṇṭhāna Sutta: The Removal of Distracting Thoughts
    MN 7. Vatthūpama Sutta: The Simile of the Cloth (handout)
    MN 8. Sallekha Sutta: Effacement

  11. Eliminating the taints
  12. MN 2. Sabbāsava Sutta: All the Taints (handout)

  1. MN 63. Mahāsāropama Sutta Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2013 Bodhi Monastery)
  2. MN 29. Mahāsāropama Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  3. MN 29. Mahāsāropama Sutta (part 2), MN 27. (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  4. MN 27. Cūḷahatthipadopama Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  5. MN 27. Cūḷahatthipadopama Sutta (part 3) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  6. MN 27. Cūḷahatthipadopama Sutta (part 4) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  7. MN 27. Cūḷahatthipadopama Sutta (part 5) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  8. MN 27. Cūḷahatthipadopama Sutta (part 6) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  9. MN 39. Mahā-Assapura Sutta Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  10. MN 27. Cūḷahatthipadopama Sutta (part 8) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  11. MN 40. Cūḷa-Assapura Sutta
  12. MN 6. Ākankheyya Sutta (part 1)
  13. MN 6. Ākankheyya Sutta (part 2)
  14. MN 19. Dvedhāvitakka Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  15. MN 20. Vitakkasaṇṭhāna Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  16. MN 7. Vatthūpama Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  17. MN 7. Vatthūpama Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  18. MN 8. Sallekha Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  19. MN 8. Sallekha Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  20. MN 8. Sallekha Sutta (part 3) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  21. MN 2. Sabbāsava Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  22. MN 2. Sabbāsava Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  23. MN 2. Sabbāsava Sutta (part 3) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  24. MN 2. Sabbāsava Sutta (part 4) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)

VI. The Practice in Detail

  1. The Noble Eightfold Path
  2. MN 117. Mahācattārīsaka Sutta: The Greater Forty

  3. The way of mindfulness
  4. MN 10. Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta: The Foundations of Mindfulness (handout-1, handout-2, handout-3, handout-4)

  5. Mindfulness of breathing
  6. MN 118. Ānāpānasati Sutta: Mindfulness of Breathing

  7. The aids to enlightenment, etc.
  8. MN 77. Mahāsakuludāyi Sutta: The Greater Discourse to Sakuludāyin

  1. MN 117. Mahācattārīsaka Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  2. MN 117. Mahācattārīsaka Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  3. MN 117. Mahācattārīsaka Sutta (part 3) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  4. MN10. Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta(part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  5. MN10. Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta(part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  6. MN10. Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta(part 3) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  7. MN10. Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta(part 4) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  8. MN10. Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta(part 5) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  9. MN10. Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta(part 6) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  10. MN10. Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta(part 7) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  11. MN10. Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta(part 8) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  12. MN10. Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta(part 9) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  13. MN10. Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta(part 10) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  14. MN 118. Ānāpānasati Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  15. MN 118. Ānāpānasati Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  16. MN 118. Ānāpānasati Sutta (part 3) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  17. MN 118. Ānāpānasati Sutta (part 4) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  18. MN 77. Mahāsakuludāyi Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  19. MN 77. Mahāsakuludāyi Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  20. MN 77. Mahāsakuludāyi Sutta (part 3) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  21. MN 77. Mahāsakuludāyi Sutta (part 4) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  22. MN 77. Mahāsakuludāyi Sutta (part 5) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
  23. MN 77. Mahāsakuludāyi Sutta (part 6) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)

VII.  The Cultivation of Wisdom

  1. Right view
  2. MN 9. Sammādiṭṭhi Sutta: Right View (handout)
    MN 11. Cūḷasīhanāda Sutta: The Shorter Discourse on the Lion’s Roar
    MN 22. Alaggūpama Sutta: The Simile of the Snake
    MN 38. Mahātaṇhāsankhaya Sutta: The Greater Discourse on the Destruction of Craving (handout)

  3. Penetrative insight
  4. MN 148. Chachaka Sutta: The Six Sets of Six
    MN 146. Nandakovāda Sutta: Advice from Nandaka
    MN 149. Mahāsaḷāyatanika Sutta: The Great Sixfold Base
    MN 28. Mahāhatthipadopama Sutta: The Greater Discourse on the Simile of the Elephant’s Footprint
    MN 64. Mahāmālunkya Sutta: The Greater Discourse to Mālunkyāputta

  5. Final realization
  6. MN 52. Aṭṭhakanāgara Sutta: The Man from Aṭṭhakanāgara (handout-1, handout-2)
    MN 140. Dhātuvibhanga Sutta: The Exposition of the Elements

  7. A typology of persons
  8. MN 1. Mūlapariyāya Suttas: The Root of All Things (handout)

  9. A typology of noble disciples
  10. MN 70. Kīṭāgiri Sutta: At Kīṭāgiri (part) (handout)

  1. MN 9. Sammādiṭṭhi Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2005 Bodhi Monastery)
  2. MN 9. Sammādiṭṭhi Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2005 Bodhi Monastery)
  3. MN 9. Sammādiṭṭhi Sutta (part 3) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2005 Bodhi Monastery)
  4. MN 9. Sammādiṭṭhi Sutta (part 4) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2005 Bodhi Monastery)
  5. MN 9. Sammādiṭṭhi Sutta (part 5) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2005 Bodhi Monastery)
  6. MN 9. Sammādiṭṭhi Sutta (part 6) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2005 Bodhi Monastery)
  7. MN 9. Sammādiṭṭhi Sutta (part 7) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2005 Bodhi Monastery)
  8. MN 9. Sammādiṭṭhi Sutta (part 8) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2005 Bodhi Monastery)
  9. MN 9. Sammādiṭṭhi Sutta (part 9) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2005 Bodhi Monastery)
  10. MN 9. Sammādiṭṭhi Sutta (part 10) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2005 Bodhi Monastery)
  11. MN 9. Sammādiṭṭhi Sutta (part 11) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2005 Bodhi Monastery)
  12. MN 11. Cūḷasīhanāda Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2005 Bodhi Monastery)
  13. MN 11. Cūḷasīhanāda Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2005 Bodhi Monastery)
  14. MN 22. Alaggūpama Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2005 Bodhi Monastery)
  15. MN 22. Alaggūpama Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2005 Bodhi Monastery)
  16. MN 22. Alaggūpama Sutta (part 3)
  17. MN 22. Alaggūpama Sutta (part 4) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2005 Bodhi Monastery)
  18. MN 22. Alaggūpama Sutta (part 5) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2005 Bodhi Monastery)
  19. MN 38. Mahātaṇhāsankhaya Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2006 Bodhi Monastery)
  20. MN 38. Mahātaṇhāsankhaya Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2006 Bodhi Monastery)
  21. MN 38. Mahātaṇhāsankhaya Sutta (part 3) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2005 Bodhi Monastery)
  22. MN 38. Mahātaṇhāsankhaya Sutta (part 4) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2006 Bodhi Monastery)
  23. MN 38. Mahātaṇhāsankhaya Sutta (part 5) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2006 Bodhi Monastery)
  24. MN 148. Chachakka Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2006 Bodhi Monastery)
  25. MN 148. Chachakka Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2006 Bodhi Monastery)
  26. MN 148. Chachakka Sutta (part 3) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2006 Bodhi Monastery)
  27. MN 146. Nandakovāda Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2006 Bodhi Monastery)
  28. MN 146. Nandakovāda Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2006 Bodhi Monastery)
  29. MN 149. Mahāsaḷāyatanika Sutta Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2006 Bodhi Monastery)
  30. MN 28. Mahāhatthipadopama Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2006 Bodhi Monastery)
  31. MN 28. Mahāhatthipadopama Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2006 Bodhi Monastery)
  32. MN 28. Mahāhatthipadopama Sutta (part 3) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2006 Bodhi Monastery)
  33. MN 64. Mahāmalunkya Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2006 Bodhi Monastery)
  34. MN 64. Mahāmalunkya Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2006 Bodhi Monastery)
  35. MN 52. Aṭṭhakanāgara Sutta Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2006 Bodhi Monastery)
  36. MN 140. Dhātuvibhanga Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2006 Bodhi Monastery)
  37. MN 140. Dhātuvibhanga Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2007 Bodhi Monastery)
  38. MN 140. Dhātuvibhanga Sutta (part 3) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2007 Bodhi Monastery)
  39. MN 1. Mūlapariyāya Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2007 Bodhi Monastery)
  40. MN 1. Mūlapariyāya Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2007 Bodhi Monastery)
  41. MN 1. Mūlapariyāya Sutta (part 3) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2007 Bodhi Monastery)
  42. MN 70. Kīṭāgiri Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2007 Bodhi Monastery)
  43. MN 70. Kīṭāgiri Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2007 Bodhi Monastery)

VIII.  The Tathāgata

    MN 12. Mahāsīhanāda Sutta: The Greater Discourse on the Lion’s Roar

  1. MN 12. Mahāsīhanāda Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2007 Bodhi Monastery)
  2. MN 12. Mahāsīhanāda Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2007 Bodhi Monastery)
  3. MN 12. Mahāsīhanāda Sutta (part 3) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2007 Bodhi Monastery)
  4. MN 12. Mahāsīhanāda Sutta (part 4) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2007 Bodhi Monastery)

IX. Life in the Sangha

  1. Monks living in harmony
  2. MN 31. Cūḷagosinga Sutta: The Shorter Discourse on Gosinga

  3. The ideal monk
  4. MN 32. Mahāgosinga Sutta: The Greater Discourse on Gosinga

  5. A recalcitrant monk
  6. MN 65. Bhaddāli Sutta: To Bhaddāli

  7. Guidelines for future harmony
  8. MN 104. Sāmagāma Sutta: At Sāmagāma

  9. After the Buddha’s parinibbāna
  10. MN 108. Gopakamoggallāna Sutta: With Gopaka Moggallāna

  1. MN 31. Cūḷagosinga Sutta Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2007 Bodhi Monastery)
  2. MN 32. Mahagosinga Sutta Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2007 Bodhi Monastery)
  3. MN 65. Bhaddāli Sutta Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2007 Bodhi Monastery)
  4. MN 104. Sāmagāma Sutta Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2007 Bodhi Monastery)
  5. MN 108. Gopakamoggallāna Sutta Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2007 Bodhi Monastery)

 

*Abbreviations:
MN = Majjhima Nikāya (Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha)
SN = Saṃyutta Nikāya (Connected Discourses of the Buddha)
AN = Aṅguttara Nikāya (Numerical Discourses of the Buddha)
DN = Dīgha Nikāya (Long Discourses of the Buddha)