Buddha’s Discourses

This web page presents some of the oldest recorded Buddhist discourses of the historical Buddha from the Sutta Pitaka.  These discourses (suttas) are compiled in various collections such as the Digha Nikaya, Majjhima Nikaya, Samyutta Nikaya, Khuddaka Nikaya, and the Anguttara Nikaya. They are considered to be the earliest recorded words of the Buddha, the Buddhavacana

As you read these suttas, you will notice the Buddha’s direct and simple teachings without any reference to the esoteric or what constitutes as religious such as heavens, hells, miracles, etc that were written into many of the later suttas and sutras of the Mahayana and Vajrayana schools. These early texts show the teachings in practical ethical terms, as one would find in Greek and Roman philosophy. as instructions to a flourishing way of life and how to experience the highest happiness and well-being, in this case termed, nirvana (similar to the Greek term Eudaimonia).

For beginners who may have difficulty understanding or appreciating these suttas, in order to gain enough background knowledge about our philosophy of life and daily practices, we highly recommend  regularly attending our Sunday morning Practice & Talks at 9 a.m. and importantly take our Buddhism 1.0 course that is offered throughout the year.

The Authenticity of the Early Buddhist Texts by Bhikkhus Sujato and Brahmali Bhikkhu

https://bodhi-college.org/wp-content/uploads/Sujato-und-Brahmali_2014_The-authenticity-of-Early-Buddhist-Texts.pdf

Gandhara Buddhist Manuscripts

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandh%C4%81ran_Buddhist_texts

Setting the Wheel in Motion Sutta aka First Sermon (Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta)

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn56/sn56.011.than.html

Fire Sermon (Adittapariyaya Sutta)

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn35/sn35.028.than.html

Way of Mindfulness Sutta (Satipatthana Sutta)

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/soma/wayof.html

Five Contemplations (Uppajjhatthana Sutta)

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an05/an05.057.than.html

The Discourse on Blessings (Maha Mangala Sutta)

http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/ethics_m.htm

The Discourse on Free Inquiry (Kalama Sutta)

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/soma/wheel008.html#kal

The Discourse to Sigala (Sigalovada Sutta)

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.31.0.nara.html

The Discourse of Love (Metta Sutta)

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/snp/snp.1.08.amar.html

Rhinoceros Sutta (Khaggavisana Sutta)

http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/ethics_m.htm

The Sayings of the Buddha (Dhammapada)

http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/scrndhamma.pdf