Buddham Dhammam

Recommended for intermediate students

ARIYAPARIYESANĀSUTTA

MN 26

The Noble Search

This is one of the most important biographical discourses, telling the Buddha's experiences from leaving home to realizing awakening. Throughout, he was driven by the imperative to fully escape from rebirth and suffering.

Translations

Recommended for intermediate students

CŪĻAHATTHIPADOPAMASUTTA

MN 27

The Shorter Discourse on the Simile of the Elephant's Footprint

The Buddha cautions against swift conclusions about a teacher's spiritual accomplishments, comparing it to the care a tracker would use when tracking elephants. He presents the full training of a monastic.

Translations

Recommended for experienced students

MAHĀHATTHIPADOPAMASUTTA

MN 28

The Greater Discourse on the Simile of the Elephant's Footprint

Sāriputta gives an elaborate demonstration of how, just as any footprint can fit inside an elephant's, all the Buddha's teaching can fit inside the four noble truths. This offers an overall template for organizing the Buddha's...

Translations

Recommended for intermediate students

MAHĀSĀROPAMASUTTA

MN 29

The Greater Discourse on the Simile of the Heartwood

Following the incident with Devadatta, the Buddha cautions the mendicants against becoming complacent with superficial benefits of spiritual life and points to liberation as the true heart of the teaching.

Translations

Recommended for intermediate students

CŪĻASĀROPAMASUTTA

MN 30

The Shorter Simile of the Heartwood

Similar to the previous. After the incident with Devadatta, the Buddha cautions the mendicants against becoming complacent and points to liberation as the true heart of the teaching.

Translations