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Essential Commentarial Texts

JoshuaJoshua Veteran
edited January 2011 in Buddhism Basics
I'm getting interested in reading some commentaries on the Tipitaka. Is this the best place to start, or could anybody help me with some of the essential texts? I really know nothing about this. I do plan to read the Milinda Panha. That's my only decisive plan though.

..

Since posting this I found this, I don't know why I didn't think to look there before, still though, I'm really looking for a few places to start. Actually at second glance it looks like most of them aren't translated into English. Is that how it is, or will I find things on Amazon?

Thanks

Comments

  • JasonJason God Emperor Arrakis Moderator
    The Visuddhimagga (Path of Purification) is probably a good place to start. Not only is it pretty easy to find, it's probably the most systematic and comprehensive of the commentaries. It's also one of the most important in that it damn near forms the basis of Theravadin orthodoxy.

    Also, just for reference, the Milindapanha is a post-canonical text (although it's included in the Khuddaka Nikaya of the Burmese Tipitaka), but it's not a commentary (atthakatha).
  • JoshuaJoshua Veteran
    Aha, what is your opinion on the Milindapanha? Is it much reliable?
  • JasonJason God Emperor Arrakis Moderator
    Well, I prefer to stick to the four main books of the Sutta Pitaka myself as I find them to be the most reliable, but I don't think it'd hurt to read any of the post-canonical material like the Milindapanha.
  • JoshuaJoshua Veteran
    Also, because I don't have a lot of money to be throwing around, would you say that the Visuddhimagga would be a much more intelligent purchase than the Nikayas (I wouldn't be buying them at all at once for sure)? Would I walk away from the Visuddhimagga with a confident comprehension of all parts of orthodox Buddhism?

    ..

    By four main books you're excluding the Khudakka, right?
  • JasonJason God Emperor Arrakis Moderator
    edited January 2011
    No, I'd stick with the Suttas myself. I think Buddhaghosa, the author/translator of the Visuddhismagga deviates from them a bit (and in some places, a whole lot).

    Yes, I excluded the Khuddaka Nikaya. Parts of it are OK, like the Dhammapada, for example, but others are most likely later additions. Out of all five Nikayas, I think the Majjhima Nikaya is the most reliable and enjoyable to read. Next would be the Samyutta Nikaya, which is much larger (and more expensive). If Bhikkhu Bodhi's new translation of the Anguttara Nikaya was out, that'd be next on my list. After that, the Digha Nikaya and the Khuddaka Nikaya.
  • JoshuaJoshua Veteran
    Hey, I know this is quite a bit off topic, but I recently read that the Anguttara Nikaya progressively loses it's integrity and authenticity beginning with the book of sixes. Have you heard anything about this?
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