Tipitaka Study Guide

Joshua · January 2011

Being newly interested in Buddhism, I find the Tipitaka completely overwhelming. @Jason just gave me an idea of which Nikayas to begin in a recent thread, but beyond this I'm curious if there are key suttas? What would be really helpful is if anybody knows of any sort of syllabus online? Or is it just best to soldier through it all sutta by sutta .. by sutta?

Thanks

Vincenzi · January 2011

start with Sutra Pitaka... maybe read first Anapanasati Sutra (I think that was the name) and then Samañaphala Sutra (commonly translated as "Fruits of the Contemplative Life").

DhammaDhatu · January 2011

basic suttas:

Three Cardinal Discourses of the Buddha
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/nanamoli/wheel017.html

Dhammapada
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/dhp/dhp.intro.budd.html

DhammaDhatu · January 2011

for laylife:

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

Samajivina Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an04/an04.055.than.html

Anana Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an04/an04.062.than.html

Maha-mangala Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/snp/snp.2.04.piya.html

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

then browse through the Anguttara Nikaya
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/index.html

DhammaDhatu · January 2011

eightfold path:

Saccavibhanga Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.141.than.html

Maha-cattarisaka Sutta: The Great Forty
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.117.than.html

DhammaDhatu · January 2011

three characteristics & emptiness:

Anatta-lakkhana Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn22/sn22.059.nymo.html

Dhamma-niyama Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an03/an03.134.than.html

Na Tumhaka Sutta: Not Yours
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn35/sn35.101.than.html

Suñña Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn35/sn35.085.than.html

Phena Sutta: Foam
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn22/sn22.095.than.html

Ani Sutta: The Peg
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn20/sn20.007.than.html

DhammaDhatu · January 2011

DhammaDhatu · January 2011

meditation:

Dvedhavitakka Sutta: Two Sorts of Thinking
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.019.than.html

Vitakkasanthana Sutta: The Relaxation of Thoughts
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.020.than.html

Satipatthana Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.010.than.html

Maha-Rahulovada Sutta: The Greater Exhortation to Rahula
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.062.than.html

Bhaddekaratta Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.131.than.html

Anapanasati Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.118.than.html

Samadhi Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an04/an04.041.than.html

:om:

DhammaDhatu · January 2011

buddha's life:

Ariyapariyesana Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.026.than.html

Maha-parinibbana Sutta: Last Days of the Buddha
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.16.1-6.vaji.html

DhammaDhatu · January 2011

gradual training:

Maha-Assapura Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.039.than.html

:om:

DhammaDhatu · January 2011

metta:

Kakacupama Sutta: The Parable of the Saw
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.021x.budd.html

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

Metta (Mettanisamsa) Sutta: Discourse on Advantages of Loving-kindness
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an11/an11.016.piya.html

DhammaDhatu · January 2011

Joshua · January 2011

Thank you DD.

..

I've found a study guide by Leigh Brasington, I'd link to it but I'm mobile. Is this any good?

Actually I think it might be http://leighb.com/studygid.htm

Thanks

DhammaDhatu · January 2011

kamma & rebirth :eek:

Cula-kammavibhanga Sutta (note: i heard is not found in the Chinese version of the MN)
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.135.nymo.html

Maha-kammavibhanga Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.136.nymo.html

Tittha Sutta: Sectarians
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an03/an03.061.than.html

Nibbedhika Sutta: Penetrative
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an06/an06.063.than.html

Kamma Sutta: Action
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn35/sn35.145.than.html

DhammaDhatu · January 2011

five aggregates:

Khandha Sutta: Aggregates
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn22/sn22.048.than.html

Khajjaniya Sutta: Chewed Up
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn22/sn22.079.than.html

DhammaDhatu · January 2011

mindfulness:

Sedaka Sutta: The Bamboo Acrobat
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn47/sn47.019.olen.html

Sedaka Sutta: The Beauty Queen
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn47/sn47.020.than.html

DhammaDhatu · January 2011

Is this any good?

It could be good. (Currently, my computer cannot open the link).

The suttas are so vast. What one recommends is a little subjective (although the certain suttas will pop up on most lists).

Regards

DD

federica · January 2011

That's a little light reading to be going on with. Nice little collection, there.

In my opinion, just bookmark the whole Access To Insight site. It's all thought-provoking and very educational.

Joshua · January 2011

Fede, actually it's downloaded to my PC, but like I said it's very overwhelming. Also, some suttas aren't to be taken literally and I don't know when to draw the line because the distinction as I've already discovered isn't usually in black and white (I'm assuming the Buddha himself would at the moment give me watered down teachings, so how could I recognize the pure ones?). And most importantly, Jason has given me the impression that many teachings by great masters and favored commentaries, orthodox as they be, deviate if but slightly from the Tipitaka; I wouldn't know how. I figure it's best to figure out the proper base first (even if that's left to my own interpretations) rather than others' interpretations. Eh, I have a feeling I'm being overcome by a haze of melodrama, is that it?

..

DD, these suttas are paramount, I take it?

Thanks all

DhammaDhatu · January 2011

Bhikkhu Bodhi's selection is here: http://www.vgweb.org/sutta/bodhi.pdf, which includes most but not all of my recommendations.

I would add:

Bahudhatuka Sutta (The Discourse on Many Elements)
http://www.dhammasukha.org/Study/Talks/Transcripts/MN-115-SUM03-TS.htm

Lokavipatti Sutta: The Failings of the World
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an08/an08.006.than.html

The four suttas at this link, which include two on Nibbana:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/iti/iti.2.042-049x.irel.html#iti-042

Jason · January 2011

I wouldn't worry too much about it, Joshua. My suggestion is to just take your time, read whatever seems the most relevant and useful to you, and put aside everything else. Just build on what you know is true, don't neglect your meditation practice, and you'll do just fine.

nvamsa · January 2011

Guide to Tipitaka, U Ko Lay, ed. provides an excellent outline of the Tipitaka, containing summaries of many important suttas.
You can either read it online at :
http://www.viet.net/anson/ebud/guide-tipitaka/guidetipitaka-00.htm
or download the pdf from :
http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/tipitaka.pdf

with metta,
SL

Joshua · January 2011

Well thank you all, you've been infinitely helpful.

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