VIBHAṄGAVAGGA

Collections of Middle Discourses

Collections of 'middle-length' discourses and other related texts.

Intermediate level

Recommended for intermediate students

BHADDEKARATTASUTTA

MN 131

The Discourse on the Bhaddekaratta

This discourse opens with a short but powerful set of verses extolling the benefits of insight into the here and now, followed by an explanation.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato (2018)

✓ aligned ✓ annotated

Intermediate level

Recommended for intermediate students

ĀNANDABHADDEKARATTASUTTA

MN 132

Ānanda and One Fine Night

The same discourse as MN 131, but spoken by Venerable Ānanda.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato (2018)

✓ aligned ✓ annotated

Experienced level

Recommended for experienced students

MAHĀKACCĀNABHADDEKARATTASUTTA

MN 133

Mahākaccāna and One Fine Night

The verses from MN 131 are explained in a different way by Venerable Mahakaccāna.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato (2018)

✓ aligned ✓ annotated

Intermediate level

Recommended for intermediate students

LOMASAKAṄGIYABHADDEKARATTASUTTA

MN 134

Lomasakaṅgiya and One Fine Night

A monk who does not know the verses from MN 131 is encouraged by a deity to learn them.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato (2018)

✓ aligned ✓ annotated

Intermediate level

Recommended for intermediate students

CŪĻAKAMMAVIBHAṄGASUTTA

MN 135

The Shorter Analysis of Deeds

The Buddha explains to a brahmin how your deeds in past lives affect you in this life.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato (2018)

✓ aligned ✓ annotated

✓ aligned ✓ annotated

Experienced level

Recommended for experienced students

MAHĀKAMMAVIBHAṄGASUTTA

MN 136

The Greater Analysis of Deeds

Confronted with an overly simplistic version of his own teachings, the Buddha emphasizes the often overlooked nuances and qualifications in how karma plays out.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato (2018)

✓ aligned ✓ annotated

Experienced level

Recommended for experienced students

SAḷĀYATANAVIBHAṄGASUTTA

MN 137

The Analysis of the Six Sense Fields

A detailed analysis of the six senses and the relation to emotional and cognitive processes.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato (2018)

✓ aligned ✓ annotated

Experienced level

Recommended for experienced students

UDDESAVIBHAṄGASUTTA

MN 138

A Summary Recital and its Analysis

The Buddha gives a brief and enigmatic statement on the ways consciousness may become attached. Venerable Mahākaccāna is invited by the mendicants to draw out the implications.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato (2018)

✓ aligned ✓ annotated

Intermediate level

Recommended for intermediate students

ARAṆAVIBHAṄGASUTTA

MN 139

The Analysis of No Strife

Achieving peace is no simple matter. The Buddha explains how to avoid conflict through contentment, right speech, understanding pleasure, and not insisting on local conventions.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato (2018)

✓ aligned ✓ annotated

Experienced level

Recommended for experienced students

DHĀTUVIBHAṄGASUTTA

MN 140

The Analysis of the Elements

While staying overnight in a potter's workshop, the Buddha has a chance encounter with a monk who does not recognize him. They have a long and profound discussion based on the four elements. This is one of the most insightful and...

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato (2018)

✓ aligned ✓ annotated

✓ aligned ✓ annotated

Experienced level

Recommended for experienced students

SACCAVIBHAṄGASUTTA

MN 141

The Analysis of the Truths

Expanding on the Buddha's first sermon, Venerable Sāriputta gives a detailed explanation of the four noble truths.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato (2018)

✓ aligned ✓ annotated

Intermediate level

Recommended for intermediate students

DAKKHIṆĀVIBHAṄGASUTTA

MN 142

The Analysis of Religious Donations

When his step-mother Mahāpajāpatī wishes to offer him a robe for his personal use, the Buddha encourages her to offer it to the entire Saṅgha instead. He goes on to explain that the best kind of offering to the Saṅgha is one...

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato (2018)

✓ aligned ✓ annotated