The Suttanipāta : An Ancient Collection of the Buddha’s Discourses Together with Its Commentaries (The Teachings of the Buddha)

1618 Pages·2017·6.43 MB·English

by  Bhikkhu Bodhi

the teachings of the buddha
Aṭṭhakavagga, the Pārāyanavagga, and the This landmark volume in the Teachings of the
Rhinoceros Horn Sutta. Buddha series translates the Suttanipāta, a
The
Translator Bhikkhu Bodhi provides an text that matches the Dhammapada in its con-
insightful, in-depth introduction, a guide to Suttanipaˉta cise power of expression and its centrality to
the individual suttas, extensive notes, a list the Buddhist tradition. Celebrated transla-
of parallels to the discourses of the Sutta- The tor Bhikkhu Bodhi illuminates this text and
nipāta, and a list of the numerical sets men- its classical commentaries with elegant ren-
tioned in the commentaries. Suttanipa¯ ta derings and authoritative annotations.
The Suttanipāta, or “Group of Discourses,”
Bhikkhu Bodhi is an American Buddhist is a collection of discourses ascribed to the
monk originally from New York City. Buddha that includes some of the most pop-
Ordained in 1972 in Sri Lanka, where he An Ancient Collection of the ular suttas of the Pāli Canon, among them
lived for over twenty years, he was the the Discourse on Loving-Kindness. The sut-
Buddha’s Discourses
long-time president and chief editor for tas are primarily in verse, though several
the Buddhist Publication Society in Kandy. are in mixed prose and verse. The Sutta-
together with its
He currently resides at Chuang Yen Mon- nipāta contains discourses that extol the
astery in upstate New York. Renowned for commentaries figure of the muni, the illumined sage, who
his systematic and elegant translations of wanders homeless completely detached
Buddhist texts, Venerable Bodhi has many from the world. Other suttas, such as the
important publications to his credit, includ- Discourse on Downfall and the Discourse on
Translated from the Paˉli by
ing The Middle Length Discourses of the Bud- An Ancient Collection of the Blessings, establish the foundations of Bud-
dha, The Connected Discourses of the Buddha, Bhikkhu Bodhi dhist lay ethics. The last two chapters—the
The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha, The Buddha’s Discourses Aṭṭhakavagga (Chapter of Octads) and the
Buddha’s Teachings on Social and Communal Pārāyana vagga (The Chapter on the Way to
Harmony, and In the Buddha’s Words. the Beyond)—are considered to be among
together with its
the most ancient parts of the Pāli Canon.
commentaries The Aṭṭhakavagga advocates a critical
attitude toward views and doctrines. The
Pārāyana vagga is a beautiful poem in which
• sixteen spiritual seekers travel across India
Wisdom Publications, a not-for-profit publisher,
to meet the Buddha and ask him profound
is dedicated to making available authentic Bud-
Translated from the Paˉli by questions pertaining to the highest goal.
dhist works for the benefit of all. We publish
The commentary, the Paramatthajotikā,
translations of the sutras and tantras, commen-
For sale only in Sri Lanka and India. Bhikkhu Bodhi relates the background story to each sutta
taries and teachings of past and contemporary
Buddhist masters, and original works by the NOT FOR EXPORT. and explains each verse in detail. The vol-
ume includes numerous excerpts from the
world’s leading Buddhist scholars. We publish
ISBN 978-1-61429-429-0
our titles with the appreciation of Buddhism as a Niddesa, an ancient commentary already
living philosophy and with the special commit- included in the Pāli Canon, which offers
ment to preserve and transmit important works detailed expositions of each verse in the
from all the major Buddhist traditions. continues on back flap
The Suttanipa¯ ta
THE TEACHINGS OF THE BUDDHA SERIES
The Buddha’s Teachings on Social and Communal Harmony:
An Anthology of Discourses from the Pāli Canon
The Connected Discourses of the Buddha:
A Translation of the Saṃyutta Nikāya
Great Disciples of the Buddha:
Their Lives, Their Works, Their Legacy
In the Buddha’s Words:
An Anthology of Discourses from the Pāli Canon
The Long Discourses of the Buddha:
A Translation of the Dīgha Nikāya
The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha:
A Translation of the Majjhima Nikāya
The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha:
A Translation of the Aṅguttara Nikāya
THE TEACHINGS OF THE BUDDHA
The
Suttanipaˉta
An Ancient Collection of the
Buddha’s Discourses
Together with Its Commentaries
Paramatthajotikā II
and excerpts from the Niddesa
•
Translated from the Pa¯li
by
Bhikkhu Bodhi
Wisdom Publications
199 Elm Street
Somerville, MA 02144 USA
wisdompubs.org
© 2017 Bhikkhu Bodhi
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including photography, recording, or by any information storage and
retrieval system or technologies now known or later developed, without permission in
writing from the publisher.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.
LCCN 2016048003
ISBN 978-1-61429-429-0 ebook ISBN 978-1-61429-454-2
21 20 19 18 17
5 4 3 2 1
Design by Gopa&Ted2.
Set in TexGyrePagella 10/12.4.
Dedicated to the memory of two departed friends
from my time in Sri Lanka
Ayyā Nyānasirī
(1932–2004)
An American Buddhist woman who lived in Sri Lanka
from 1978 until her death in 2004. An editorial assis-
tant for the Buddhist Publication Society, ordained as a
ten-p recept nun in 1987, an inspiration to many of the
English-s peaking Sri Lankan Buddhist women in Kandy
and Colombo, she was a great admirer of the Suttanipāta
who aspired to follow the muni ideal.
Bhikkhu Sumedha
(1932–2006)
A Swiss bhikkhu who lived in Sri Lanka from 1974 until
his death in 2006, resident at the Manāpadassana Cave
near Doolwala, Kandy district. A brilliant artist with paint,
brush, and words, a Dhamma teacher with keen insight
into the teachings, he was also a monk of deep compassion
who served as spiritual guide to doctors and patients at
the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital.
Wherever these two departed friends may now be dwelling, may
they rejoice in the knowledge that this translation is dedicated to
their memory.
Publisher’s Acknowledgment
The publisher gratefully acknowledges the generous help of
the Hershey Family Foundation in sponsoring the production
of this book.
Contents
Preface 13
Key to the Pronunciation of Pāli 21
Abbreviations 23
Introduction 27
A Guide to the Suttas 95
The Suttanipāta
I. The Chapter on the Serpent 157
1. The Serpent 157
2. Dhaniya 159
3. The Rhinoceros Horn 162
4. Kasibhāradvāja 167
5. Cunda 170
6. Downfall 171
7. The Outcast 174
8. Loving-Kindness 179
9. Hemavata 180
10. Āḷavaka 185
11. Victory 187
12. The Muni 189
II. The Minor Chapter 193
1. Gems 193
2. Carrion 196
3. Moral Shame 198
4. Blessings 198
5. Sūciloma 200
6. Righteous Conduct 201
7. The Tradition of the Brahmins 203
8 The Suttanipāta
8. The Boat 208
9. What Good Behavior? 209
10. Arouse Yourselves! 210
11. Rāhula 211
12. Vaṅgīsa 212
13. Proper Wandering 215
14. Dhammika 217
III. The Great Chapter 223
1. The Going Forth 223
2. Striving 225
3. Well Spoken 229
4. Sundarikabhāradvāja 230
5. Māgha 236
6. Sabhiya 241
7. Sela 249
8. The Dart 257
9. Vāseṭṭha 260
10. Kokālika 269
11. Nālaka 274
12. Contemplation of Dyads 280
IV. The Chapter of Octads 291
1. Sensual Pleasures 291
2. The Octad on the Cave 292
3. The Octad on the Hostile 293
4. The Octad on the Pure 294
5. The Octad on the Supreme 295
6. Old Age 296
7. Tissa Metteyya 298
8. Pasūra 299
9. Māgandiya 300
10. Before the Breakup 303
11. Quarrels and Disputes 304
12. The Smaller Discourse on Deployment 307
13. The Greater Discourse on Deployment 309
14. Quickly 312
15. One Who Has Taken Up the Rod 315
16. Sāriputta 317
Contents 9
V. The Chapter on the Way to the Beyond 321
Introductory Verses 321
1. The Questions of Ajita 328
2. The Questions of Tissa Metteyya 329
3. The Questions of Puṇṇaka 330
4. The Questions of Mettagū 331
5. The Questions of Dhotaka 333
6. The Questions of Upasīva 334
7. The Questions of Nanda 336
8. The Questions of Hemaka 337
9. The Questions of Todeyya 338
10. The Questions of Kappa 339
11. The Questions of Jatukaṇṇī 339
12. The Questions of Bhadrāvudha 340
13. The Questions of Udaya 341
14. The Questions of Posāla 342
15. The Questions of Mogharāja 343
16. The Questions of Piṅgiya 343
Epilogue 344
Elucidator of the Supreme Meaning (Paramatthajotikā II)
The Commentary to the Suttanipāta
The Purpose of This Work 351
I. The Chapter on the Serpent 353
1. The Serpent 355
2. Dhaniya 381
3. The Rhinoceros Horn 401
4. Kasibhāradvāja 497
5. Cunda 527
6. Downfall 537
7. Aggikabhāradvāja (The Outcast) 545
8. Loving-Kindness 565
9. Hemavata 585
10. Āḷavaka 609
11. Victory 633
12. The Muni 647