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Abridged Suttas'

AllbuddhaBoundAllbuddhaBound Veteran
in Buddhism Basics

Maybe I am displaying my ignorant western mind, but does any one know of a source for abridged Suttas'? Perhaps a book or website.

Comments

  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator

    The Dhammapada is pretty much as an abridged condensed version of everything the Buddha taught, as anything can be....! Other than that, what specifically are you looking for? A collection of shortened interpretations, or Suttas with all the repetitive bits snipped out?

  • AllbuddhaBoundAllbuddhaBound Veteran

    A combination of shorter, and repetition snipped out. What I would like is a form of Sutta that I can get a cursory understanding of theme's and from there, look at the longer versions. Thanks

  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator

    @Jason might know something, but if I'm honest, the Suttas - if you're looking specifically for Thervada Literature - are kept long and unabridged for a reason.

    • I think it's more a question on buying something by Thanissaru Bikkhu, or Ajahn Chah, and reading their literature to gain an insight into the teachings.

    You could look into this:

    Or this:

    But that's all I could find.
    As I said, maybe Jason can help more.....

  • silversilver In the beginning there was nothing, and then it exploded. USA, Left coast. Veteran

    @AllbuddhaBound said:
    A combination of shorter, and repetition snipped out. What I would like is a form of Sutta that I can get a cursory understanding of theme's and from there, look at the longer versions. Thanks

    >

    I'd like that, too.

  • BuddhadragonBuddhadragon Ehipassiko & Carpe Diem Samsara Veteran
    edited December 2014

    Interesting, though sometimes dated, compilations of suttas are:

    -"The Word of the Buddha" (Nyanatiloka Thero)
    http://www.urbandharma.org/pdf/wordofbuddha.pdf

    -"The Wisdom of Buddhism" (Christmas Humphreys)

    -"Buddhist Texts through the Ages" (Edward Conze)

    -"Some Sayings of the Buddha" (F. L. Woodward)

    -"The Vision of Dhamma" (Nyanaponika Thera)

    -"Buddhism in Translations" (Henry Clarke Warren)
    http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/bits/

    -"Sayings of the Buddha" (Rupert Gethin)
    http://www.khamkoo.com/uploads/9/0/0/4/9004485/sayings_of_the_buddha_-_new_translations_from_the_pali_nikayas.pdf

    -"In the Buddha's Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon" (Bikkhu Bodhi)
    http://urbandharma.org/pdf2/InTheBuddhasWordsBookPreview.pdf

  • gracklegrackle Veteran

    If you go to Pariyatti.org you will find the publications of the Pali Text Society as well as the publications of the Buddhist Publication Society. The staff can be quite helpful.

    Also should you be so inclined you can subscribe to the Daily Words of the Buddha. Free of charge to your inbox. These entries will be from the Pali Canon.

  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator

    I think members need to re-read the first post.
    @AllbuddhaBound‌ is specifically looking for ABRIDGED Suttas, and simplified translations or interpretations of them....

  • AllbuddhaBoundAllbuddhaBound Veteran
    edited December 2014

    Thank you for the lead Federica. I found this list of short Suttas. A good place to start.

    http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/translators.html#thanwww.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/translators.html#than

    And here is an example translated by John D. Ireland

    Thus have I heard. At one time the Lord was staying near Savatthi, at the Jeta Grove in Anathapindika's monastery. Now when night was passing a certain devataa, lighting up the whole Jeta Grove with her surpassing beauty, approached the Lord. Having drawn near and prostrated herself she stood to one side.[1]

    Standing there the devata said:

    Those living in the forest,
    Peaceful and calm, of pure life,
    Eating but one meal a day:
    How is it they appear so radiant?
    The Lord replied:

    They sorrow not for what is past,
    They have no longing for the future,
    The present is sufficient for them:
    Hence it is they appear so radiant.
    By having longing for the future,
    By sorrowing over what is past,
    By this fools are withered up
    As a cut down tender reed.

  • DairyLamaDairyLama Veteran Veteran
    edited December 2014

    @AllbuddhaBound said:
    Maybe I am displaying my ignorant western mind, but does any one know of a source for abridged Suttas'? Perhaps a book or website.

    I'm not aware of anything like that.
    Another option would be to just start with 2 or 3 important suttas and really get to know them thoroughly.
    Here are a couple of suggestions:

    http://suttacentral.net/en/sn56.11

    http://suttacentral.net/en/mn10

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