The Connected Discourses of the Buddha: A New Translation of the Samyutta Nikaya

This is a complete translation of the Samyutta Nikaya, containing all of the important suttas ( Discourses of the Buddha ) on such key Buddhist concepts as the Four Noble Truths, dependent origination, the seven factors of enlightenment, and the Noble Eightfold Path. The Connected Discourses of the Buddha ranks as one of the most inspiring compilations in the Buddhist canon. Bhikkhu Bodhi's distinguished and precise translation, his insightful introductory materials, and his extensive notes guide the reader through this vast collection of the Buddha's ancient teachings. This is the third title in Wisdom Publications' award-winning Teachings of the Buddha Series, following The Long Discourses of the Buddha and The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha. Like its two predecessors, and 2005's anthology of Discourses of the Buddha, this volume belongs in the library of every student of Buddhism. This volume offers a complete translation of the Samyutta Nikaya, The Connected Discourses of the Buddha , the third of the four great collections in the Sutta Pitaka of the Pali Canon. The Samyutta Nikaya consists of fifty-six chapters, each governed by a unifying theme that binds together the Buddha's suttas or discourses. The chapters are organized into five major parts. The first, The Book with Verses, is a compilation of suttas composed largely in verse. This book ranks as one of the most inspiring compilations in the Buddhist canon, showing the Buddha in his full grandeur as the peerless "teacher of gods and humans." The other four books deal in depth with the philosophical principles and meditative structures of early Buddhism. They combine into orderly chapters all the important short discourses of the Buddha on such major topics as dependent origination, the five aggregates, the six sense bases, the seven factors of enlightenment, the Noble Eightfold Path, and the Four Noble Truths. Among the four large Nikayas belonging to the Pali Canon, the Samyutta Nikaya serves as the repository for the many shorter suttas of the Buddha where he discloses his radical insights into the nature of reality and his unique path to spiritual emancipation. This collection, it seems, was directed mainly at those disciples who were capable of grasping the deepest dimensions of wisdom and of clarifying them for others, and also provided guidance to meditators intent on consummating their efforts with the direct realization of the ultimate truth. The present work begins with an insightful general introduction to the Samyutta Nikaya as a whole. Each of the five parts is also provided with its own introduction, intended to guide the reader through this vast, ocean-like collection of suttas. To further assist the reader, the translator has provided an extensive body of notes clarifying various problems concerning both the language and the meaning of the texts. Distinguished by its lucidity and technical precision, this new translation makes this ancient collection of the Buddha's discourses accessible and comprehensible to the thoughtful reader of today. Like its two predecessors in this series, The Connected Discourses of the Buddha is sure to merit a place of honour in the library of every serious student of Buddhism. General Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 12 Key to the Pronunciation of Pali......Page 20 General Introduction......Page 22 PART I: The Book with Verses (Sagathavagga)......Page 58 Contents......Page 60 Introduction......Page 70 1......Page 90 2......Page 140 3......Page 165 4......Page 196 5......Page 222 6......Page 232 7......Page 255 8......Page 281 9......Page 295 10......Page 306 11......Page 318 Notes......Page 342 PART II: The Book of Causation (Nidanavagga)......Page 504 Contents......Page 506 Introduction......Page 516 1......Page 534 2......Page 622 3......Page 628 4......Page 652 5......Page 663 6......Page 683 7......Page 695 8......Page 701 9......Page 707 10......Page 714 Notes......Page 726 PART III: The Book of the Aggregates (Khandhavagga)......Page 826 Contents......Page 828 Introduction......Page 840 1......Page 854 2......Page 985 3......Page 992 4......Page 1005 5......Page 1009 6......Page 1013 7......Page 1016 8......Page 1021 9......Page 1024 10......Page 1026 11......Page 1029 12......Page 1032 13......Page 1035 Notes......Page 1044 PART IV: The Book of the Six Sense Bases (Salayatanavagga)......Page 1108 Contents......Page 1110 Introduction......Page 1122 1......Page 1134 2......Page 1261 3......Page 1287 4......Page 1295 5......Page 1302 6......Page 1303 7......Page 1315 8......Page 1333 9......Page 1373 10......Page 1381 Notes......Page 1398 PART V: The Great Book (Mahavagga)......Page 1460 Contents......Page 1462 Introduction......Page 1486 1......Page 1524 2......Page 1568 3......Page 1628 4......Page 1669 5......Page 1710 6......Page 1714 7......Page 1719 8......Page 1751 9......Page 1763 10......Page 1766 11......Page 1789 12......Page 1839 Notes......Page 1890 Concordences......Page 1968 Bibliography......Page 1992 Abbreviations......Page 2000 Pali-English Glossary......Page 2006 Index of Subjects......Page 2028 Index of Proper Names......Page 2050 Index of Similes......Page 2062 Index of Pali Terms Discussed in the Introduction and Notes......Page 2066