SĪHANĀDAVAGGA

Collections of Middle Discourses

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

Experienced level

Recommended for experienced students

CŪĻASĪHANĀDASUTTA

MN 11

The Shorter Discourse on the Lion's Roar

The Buddha proclaims the uniqueness of his teaching, comparing it to a lion's roar.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato (2018)

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Intermediate level

Recommended for intermediate students

MAHĀSĪHANĀDASUTTA

MN 12

The Greater Discourse on the Lion's Roar

The Buddha explains the ten powers of a Realized One and the four kinds of intrepidity.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato (2018)

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Intermediate level

Recommended for intermediate students

MAHĀDUKKHAKKHANDHASUTTA

MN 13

The Greater Discourse on the Mass of Suffering

The Buddha explains the gratification, drawback, and escape from sensual pleasures, forms, and feelings.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato (2018)

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Intermediate level

Recommended for intermediate students

CŪĻADUKKHAKKHANDHASUTTA

MN 14

The Shorter Discourse on the Mass of Suffering

The Buddha explains the dangers of sensual pleasures and the path to their abandonment.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato (2018)

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Recommended for beginner students

ANUMĀNASUTTA

MN 15

Inference

Moggallāna teaches how to infer one's own faults by observing others and cultivating self-awareness.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato (2018)

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Recommended for beginner students

CETOKHILASUTTA

MN 16

Emotional Barrenness

The Buddha explains various ways one can become emotionally cut off from one's spiritual community.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato (2018)

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Recommended for beginner students

VANAPATTHASUTTA

MN 17

Jungle Thickets

While living in the wilderness is great, not everyone is ready for it. The Buddha encourages meditators to reflect on whether one's environment is genuinely supporting their meditation practice, and if not, to leave.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato (2018)

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Experienced level

Recommended for experienced students

MADHUPIŅDIKASUTTA

MN 18

The Honey-Cake

Challenged by a brahmin, the Buddha gives an enigmatic response on how conflict arises due to proliferation based on perceptions. Venerable Kaccāna draws out the detailed implications of this in one of the most insightful...

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato (2018)

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Intermediate level

Recommended for intermediate students

DVEDHĀVITAKKASUTTA

MN 19

Two Kinds of Thought

Recounting his own experiences in developing meditation, the Buddha explains how to understand harmful and harmless thoughts, and how to go beyond thought altogether.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato (2018)

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Intermediate level

Recommended for intermediate students

VITAKKASANTHANASUTTA

MN 20

How to Stop Thinking

In a practical meditation teaching, the Buddha describes five different approaches to stopping thoughts.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato (2018)

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