Exploring the Word of the Buddha
Taught by Bhikkhu Bodhi
January 2003 — December 2007
PARTS I – IX
Syllabus for a Systematic Study of the Majjhima Nikāya
This series of lectures explores the direct teachings of the Buddha himself as preserved in some of the oldest records of his discourses. The first part of the series, covering fifty-two of the discourses (Parts I to IX), constitutes a systematic study program in the teachings of Early Buddhism. The later part of the series (Part X) takes selected discourses from the book in sequence, explaining their meaning and practical relevance.
The talks cover all the major teachings of Early Buddhism, including:
- Life of the Buddha
- Fundamental Ethics
- Meditation and Mind-training
- Nature of True Wisdom
We suggest that all participants in the course acquire a copy of the Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha (Wisdom Publications, Boston). Texts from the other collections will be copied and handed out.
The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha,
a translation of the Majjhima Nikaya by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli and Bhikkhu Bodhi. Available on Amazon.com.
The Majjhima Nikaya, or “Middle-length Discourses” of the Buddha, is the second of the five nikayas, or collections, in the Sutta Pitaka of the Pali Tipitaka. This nikaya consists of 152 discourses by the Buddha and his chief disciples, which together constitute a comprehensive body of teaching concerning all aspects of the Buddha Dharma. more readers’ reviews
Introduction
An introduction to the organization of the Pali Canon and to some of the background conditions in India from which the Suttas arose.
- 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:
- MN 26. Ariyapariyesanā Sutta: The Noble Search
- MN 4. Bhayabherava Sutta: Fear and Dread
- MN 36. Mahāsaccaka Sutta: The Greater Discourse to Saccaka, (paragraphs 12-44)
- Optional: MN 12. Mahāsīhanāda Sutta: The Greater Discourse on the Lion’s Roar, (paragraphs 44-63)
- MN 26. Ariyapariyesana Sutta: The Noble Search Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
- MN 4. Bhayabherava Sutta: Fear & Terror (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
- MN 4. Bhayabherava Sutta: Fear & Terror (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
- MN 36. Mahasaccaka Sutta: The Longer Discourse to Saccaka (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
- MN 36. Mahasaccaka Sutta (part 2), MN 26. Ariyapariyesana Sutta: The Noble Search Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
II. Approaching the Dhamma
- Making wise choices
- Test the Buddha himself
- Faith, practice, and attainment
AN 3:65. Kālāma Sutta: To the Kālāmas (handout)
MN 60. Apaṇṇaka Sutta: The Incontrovertible Teachings (handout)
MN 47. Vimaṃsaka Sutta: The Inquirer
MN 95. Cankī Sutta: With Cankī
- AN 3.65. Kalama Sutta: To the Kalamas Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
- MN 60.The Incontrovertible Teachings (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
- MN 60. The Incontrovertible Teachings (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
- MN 47. The Inquirer Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
- MN 95. With Canki (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
- MN 95. With Canki (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
III. The Ethical Life
- Four ways of life
- Karma and its results
- The path to a higher rebirth
- Right speech and patience
MN 46. Mahādhammasamādāna Sutta: The Greater Discourse on Ways of Undertaking Things
MN 57. Kukkuravatika Sutta: The Dog-Duty Ascetic
MN 135. Cūḷakammavibhanga Sutta: The Shorter Exposition of Action (handout)
MN 41. Sāleyyaka Sutta: The Brahmins of Sālā
Optional: MN 120. Sankhārupapatti Sutta: Reappearance by Aspiration
MN 61. Ambalaṭṭhikārāhulovāda Sutta: Advice to Rāhula at Ambalaṭṭhikā
MN 21. Kakacūpama Sutta: The Simile of the Saw
- MN 46. Mahādhammasamādāna Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2013 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 46. Mahādhammasamādāna Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2013 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 57. Kukkuravatika Sutta Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2013 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 135. Cūḷakammavibhanga Sutta Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2013 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 41. Sāleyyaka Sutta Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2013 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 61. Ambalaṭṭhikārāhulovāda Sutta Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2013 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 21. Kakacūpama Sutta Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2013 Bodhi Monastery)
IV. Deepening One’s Perspective on the World
- The faults of the worldly life
- The shortcomings in sensual pleasures
- The misery of saṃsāra
- Raṭṭhapāla and the call to renunciation
MN 13. Mahādukkhakkhandha Sutta: The Greater Discourse on the Mass of Suffering
MN 54. Potaliya Sutta: To Potaliya
MN 75. Māgandiya Sutta: To Māgandiya
SN 15. Anamataggasaṃyutta: Connected Discourses on Without Discoverable Beginning, selected suttas (handout)
MN 82. Raṭṭhapāla Sutta: On Raṭṭhapāla
- MN 13. Mahādukkhakkhanda Sutta Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2013 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 54. Potaliya Sutta Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2013 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 75. Māgandiya Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2013 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 75. Māgandiya Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2013 Bodhi Monastery)
- SN 15. Anamatagga Saṁyutta Sutta Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2013 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 82. Raṭṭhapāla Sutta Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2013 Bodhi Monastery)
V. The Path to Liberation (General)
- The purpose of the spiritual life
- The gradual training
- What makes one a monk?
- The benefits of virtue
- Purifying the mind
- Eliminating the taints
MN 63. Cuḷamālunkya Sutta: The Shorter Discourse to Mālunkyāputta
MN 29. Mahāsāropama Sutta: The Greater Discourse on the Simile of the Heartwood
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
MN 40. Cūḷa-Assapura Sutta: The Shorter Discourse at Assapura
MN 6. Ākankheyya Sutta: If a Bhikkhu Should Wish
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
MN 2. Sabbāsava Sutta: All the Taints (handout)
- MN 63. Mahāsāropama Sutta Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2013 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 29. Mahāsāropama Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 29. Mahāsāropama Sutta (part 2), MN 27. (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 27. Cūḷahatthipadopama Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 27. Cūḷahatthipadopama Sutta (part 3) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 27. Cūḷahatthipadopama Sutta (part 4) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 27. Cūḷahatthipadopama Sutta (part 5) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 27. Cūḷahatthipadopama Sutta (part 6) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 39. Mahā-Assapura Sutta Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 27. Cūḷahatthipadopama Sutta (part 8) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 40. Cūḷa-Assapura Sutta
- MN 6. Ākankheyya Sutta (part 1)
- MN 6. Ākankheyya Sutta (part 2)
- MN 19. Dvedhāvitakka Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 20. Vitakkasaṇṭhāna Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 7. Vatthūpama Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 7. Vatthūpama Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 8. Sallekha Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 8. Sallekha Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 8. Sallekha Sutta (part 3) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 2. Sabbāsava Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 2. Sabbāsava Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 2. Sabbāsava Sutta (part 3) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 2. Sabbāsava Sutta (part 4) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
VI. The Practice in Detail
- The Noble Eightfold Path
- The way of mindfulness
- Mindfulness of breathing
- The aids to enlightenment, etc.
MN 117. Mahācattārīsaka Sutta: The Greater Forty
MN 10. Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta: The Foundations of Mindfulness (handout-1, handout-2, handout-3, handout-4)
MN 118. Ānāpānasati Sutta: Mindfulness of Breathing
MN 77. Mahāsakuludāyi Sutta: The Greater Discourse to Sakuludāyin
- MN 117. Mahācattārīsaka Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 117. Mahācattārīsaka Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 117. Mahācattārīsaka Sutta (part 3) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN10. Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta(part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN10. Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta(part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN10. Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta(part 3) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN10. Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta(part 4) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN10. Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta(part 5) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN10. Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta(part 6) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN10. Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta(part 7) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN10. Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta(part 8) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN10. Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta(part 9) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN10. Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta(part 10) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 118. Ānāpānasati Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 118. Ānāpānasati Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 118. Ānāpānasati Sutta (part 3) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 118. Ānāpānasati Sutta (part 4) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 77. Mahāsakuludāyi Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 77. Mahāsakuludāyi Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 77. Mahāsakuludāyi Sutta (part 3) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 77. Mahāsakuludāyi Sutta (part 4) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 77. Mahāsakuludāyi Sutta (part 5) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 77. Mahāsakuludāyi Sutta (part 6) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2014 Bodhi Monastery)
VII. The Cultivation of Wisdom
- Right view
- Penetrative insight
- Final realization
- A typology of persons
- A typology of noble disciples
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)
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
MN 52. Aṭṭhakanāgara Sutta: The Man from Aṭṭhakanāgara (handout-1, handout-2)
MN 140. Dhātuvibhanga Sutta: The Exposition of the Elements
MN 1. Mūlapariyāya Suttas: The Root of All Things (handout)
MN 70. Kīṭāgiri Sutta: At Kīṭāgiri (part) (handout)
- MN 9. Sammādiṭṭhi Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2005 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 9. Sammādiṭṭhi Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2005 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 9. Sammādiṭṭhi Sutta (part 3) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2005 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 9. Sammādiṭṭhi Sutta (part 4) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2005 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 9. Sammādiṭṭhi Sutta (part 5) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2005 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 9. Sammādiṭṭhi Sutta (part 6) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2005 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 9. Sammādiṭṭhi Sutta (part 7) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2005 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 9. Sammādiṭṭhi Sutta (part 8) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2005 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 9. Sammādiṭṭhi Sutta (part 9) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2005 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 9. Sammādiṭṭhi Sutta (part 10) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2005 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 9. Sammādiṭṭhi Sutta (part 11) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2005 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 11. Cūḷasīhanāda Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2005 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 11. Cūḷasīhanāda Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2005 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 22. Alaggūpama Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2005 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 22. Alaggūpama Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2005 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 22. Alaggūpama Sutta (part 3)
- MN 22. Alaggūpama Sutta (part 4) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2005 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 22. Alaggūpama Sutta (part 5) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2005 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 38. Mahātaṇhāsankhaya Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2006 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 38. Mahātaṇhāsankhaya Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2006 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 38. Mahātaṇhāsankhaya Sutta (part 3) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2005 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 38. Mahātaṇhāsankhaya Sutta (part 4) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2006 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 38. Mahātaṇhāsankhaya Sutta (part 5) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2006 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 148. Chachakka Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2006 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 148. Chachakka Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2006 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 148. Chachakka Sutta (part 3) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2006 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 146. Nandakovāda Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2006 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 146. Nandakovāda Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2006 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 149. Mahāsaḷāyatanika Sutta Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2006 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 28. Mahāhatthipadopama Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2006 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 28. Mahāhatthipadopama Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2006 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 28. Mahāhatthipadopama Sutta (part 3) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2006 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 64. Mahāmalunkya Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2006 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 64. Mahāmalunkya Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2006 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 52. Aṭṭhakanāgara Sutta Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2006 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 140. Dhātuvibhanga Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2006 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 140. Dhātuvibhanga Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2007 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 140. Dhātuvibhanga Sutta (part 3) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2007 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 1. Mūlapariyāya Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2007 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 1. Mūlapariyāya Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2007 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 1. Mūlapariyāya Sutta (part 3) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2007 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 70. Kīṭāgiri Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2007 Bodhi Monastery)
- 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
- MN 12. Mahāsīhanāda Sutta (part 1) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2007 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 12. Mahāsīhanāda Sutta (part 2) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2007 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 12. Mahāsīhanāda Sutta (part 3) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2007 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 12. Mahāsīhanāda Sutta (part 4) Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2007 Bodhi Monastery)
IX. Life in the Sangha
- Monks living in harmony
- The ideal monk
- A recalcitrant monk
- Guidelines for future harmony
- After the Buddha’s parinibbāna
MN 31. Cūḷagosinga Sutta: The Shorter Discourse on Gosinga
MN 32. Mahāgosinga Sutta: The Greater Discourse on Gosinga
MN 65. Bhaddāli Sutta: To Bhaddāli
MN 104. Sāmagāma Sutta: At Sāmagāma
MN 108. Gopakamoggallāna Sutta: With Gopaka Moggallāna
- MN 31. Cūḷagosinga Sutta Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2007 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 32. Mahagosinga Sutta Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2007 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 65. Bhaddāli Sutta Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2007 Bodhi Monastery)
- MN 104. Sāmagāma Sutta Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi (2007 Bodhi Monastery)
- 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)