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The Suttas

redcordialredcordial
edited August 2011 in Buddhism Basics
Sorry if my question is a little ignorant however am just wanting someone to please explain the suttas to me and how I would go about studying them. For example, what do I start with, and where do I actually get a copy (in English?). How many are there? Are they in order? Also I have seen references such as MN or AN, what are these letters referring to?

Thankyou kindly

Comments

  • TalismanTalisman Veteran
    edited August 2011
    accesstoinsight.org start by searching something you already know a little about and go from there
  • jlljll Veteran
    http://www.justbegood.net/ &

    http://www.buddhanet.net/


  • kacikaci
    edited August 2011
    Sorry if my question is a little ignorant however am just wanting someone to please explain the suttas to me and how I would go about studying them. For example, what do I start with, and where do I actually get a copy (in English?).
    "suttas" is generally used to refer to the pali canon - arguably the most complete and accurate record of early buddhism (ie. with the least addition, deletion, or distortion). originally an oral tradition that began being transcribed 100 to 300 years later it is very large collection of what are basically sermons attributed to gotama buddha. technically the suttas are only the prose/verse mixtures but the term is used generically to include any passages from the pali canon. there are thousands - together they are several times as large as the judeo-christian bible. some are quite short, some pages long. many are quite repetitive so it helps to have a guide - bikkhu bodhi's "In the Buddha's Words" is a good overview of the most prominent groups. thanissaro bhikkhu also quotes frequently from the pali (his own translations) with interesting and insightful interpretation - i would recommend checking out some of his books - all of which are free and available in PDF for download at accesstoinsight.org as well.

    as suggested by talisman, one of the best sources is accesstoinsight.org with many suttas online, some with multiple translations - which is nice as different translators have a slightly different interpretation that usually corresponds to their lineage's traditional interpretation. they also have some study guides to give you something to start with. i find it helpful to compare versions and also to attempt (i am still learning) to read directly from the pali.

    metta.lk and http://www.leighb.com/suttas.htm also have some alternate translations online. there are other translations available in print and the pali text society has many (somewhat dated) translations as well.

    How many are there?
    several thousand.

    Are they in order?
    not really, which is why it helps to go with an overview ...

    Also I have seen references such as MN or AN, what are these letters referring to?
    these are groupings of the suttas - MN is the Majjhima Nikaya (The Middle-length Discourses), AN is Anguttara Nikaya (The Further-factored Discourses)


    Thankyou kindly
    you're welcome - happy to help any really curious about the pali! i highly recommend the study; it clears up a lot of confusion about the dhamma. :)
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