BHIKKHUVAGGA

Collections of Middle Discourses

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

Recommended for beginner students

AMBALAṬṬHIKĀRĀHULOVĀDA SUTTA

MN 61

Instructions to Rāhula at Ambalaṭṭhikā

The Buddha teaches his son Rāhula about the importance of truthfulness and reflection before, during, and after any action.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato (2018)

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Intermediate level

Recommended for intermediate students

MAHĀRĀHULOVĀDA SUTTA

MN 62

The Greater Instructions to Rāhula

The Buddha teaches Rāhula about the elements, the senses, and the practice of meditation, leading to liberation.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato (2018)

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Experienced level

Recommended for experienced students

CŪĻAMĀLUṄKYASUTTA

MN 63

The Shorter Discourse to Māluṅkya

The Buddha addresses Māluṅkya's questions about speculative views, explaining that such questions are not conducive to the holy life.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato (2018)

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Intermediate level

Recommended for intermediate students

MAHĀMĀLUṄKYASUTTA

MN 64

The Greater Discourse to Māluṅkya

The Buddha further elaborates on the unanswerable questions and the path to liberation, emphasizing the importance of abandoning defilements.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato (2018)

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Intermediate level

Recommended for intermediate students

BHADDĀLISUTTA

MN 65

With Bhaddāli

The Buddha discusses the reasons for some monks' reluctance to follow the training rules and the benefits of adherence to discipline.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato (2018)

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Intermediate level

Recommended for intermediate students

LAṬUKIKOPAMASUTTA

MN 66

The Simile of the Quail

The Buddha uses the simile of a quail caught by a flimsy snare to illustrate how attachment to sensual pleasures can bind one to suffering.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato (2018)

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Intermediate level

Recommended for intermediate students

CĀTUMASUTTA

MN 67

At Cātuma

The Buddha teaches about the dangers and difficulties faced by monks, using similes of a river's current and crocodiles.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato (2018)

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Recommended for beginner students

NALAKAPĀNASUTTA

MN 68

At Nalakapāna

The Buddha explains the importance of right effort and diligence in the practice, using the example of a well at Nalakapāna.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato (2018)

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Recommended for beginner students

GULISSĀNISUTTA

MN 69

With Gulissāni

A monk comes down to the community from the wilderness, but doesn't behave properly. Venerable Sāriputta explains how a mendicant should behave, whether in forest or town.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato (2018)

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Intermediate level

Recommended for intermediate students

KĪTĀGIRISUTTA

MN 70

At Kītāgiri

A third discourse that presents the health benefits of eating in one part of the day, and the reluctance of some mendicants to follow this.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato (2018)

✓ aligned ✓ annotated

✓ aligned ✓ annotated