Buddham Dhammam

Recommended for intermediate students

AṬṬHAKANĀGARASUTTA

MN 52

The Man from Aṭṭhakanāgara

Asked by a householder to teach a path to freedom, Venerable Ānanda explains no less than eleven meditative states that may serve as doors to the deathless.

Translations

Recommended for intermediate students

SEKHASUTTA

MN 53

A Trainee

The Buddha is invited by his family, the Sakyans of Kapilavatthu, to inaugurate a new community hall. He invites Venerable Ānanda to explain in detail the stages of spiritual practice for a lay trainee.

Translations

Recommended for intermediate students

POTALIYASUTTA

MN 54

With Potaliya the Householder

When Potaliya got upset at being referred to as "householder", the Buddha quizzed him as to the true nature of attachment and renunciation.

Translations

Recommended for intermediate students

JĪVAKASUTTA

MN 55

With Jīvaka

The Buddha's personal doctor, Jīvaka, hears criticisms of the Buddha's policy regarding eating meat, and asks him about it.

Translations

Recommended for intermediate students

UPĀLISUTTA

MN 56

With Upāli

The Buddha disagrees with a Jain ascetic on the question of whether physical or mental deeds are more important. When he hears of this, the Jain disciple Upāli decides to visit the Buddha and refute him, and proceeds despite all...

Translations

Recommended for intermediate students

KUKKURAVATIKASUTTA

MN 57

The Ascetic Who Behaved Like a Dog

Some ascetics in ancient India undertook extreme practices, such as a vow to behave like an ox or a dog. The Buddha meets two such individuals, and is reluctantly pressed to reveal the kammic outcomes of such practice.

Translations

Recommended for intermediate students

ABHAYARĀJAKUMĀRASUTTA

MN 58

With Prince Abhaya

The leader of the Jains, Nigantha Nātaputta, gives his disciple Prince Abhaya a dilemma to pose to the Buddha, supposing that this will show his weakness. Things don't go quite as planned.

Translations

Recommended for experienced students

BAHUVEDANĪYASUTTA

MN 59

The Many Kinds of Feeling

The Buddha resolves a disagreement on the number of kinds of feelings that he taught, pointing out that different ways of teaching are appropriate in different contexts, and should not be a cause of disputes. He goes on to show...

Translations

Recommended for beginner students

APAṆṆAKASUTTA

MN 60

Unfailing

The Buddha teaches a group of uncommitted householders how to use a rational reflection to arrive at practices and principles that are guaranteed to have a good outcome, even if we don't know all the variables.

Translations