Sutta Nipata
The Sutta CollectionSource: This anthology prepared by jtb for Access to
Insight.
Access to Insight edition © 2005
For free distribution. This work may be republished, reformatted,
reprinted, and redistributed in any medium. It is the author's wish,
however, that any such republication and redistribution be made available
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other derivative works be clearly marked as such.
The Sutta Nipata ("The Sutta Collection"), the fifth book of the Khuddaka
Nikaya, consists of 71 short suttas divided into five vaggas (chapters).
A useful printed translation of the complete Sutta Nipata is K.R. Norman's The
Group of Discourses (2nd ed.) (Oxford: Pali Text Society, 2001). Excerpts from
the Sutta Nipata also appear in Handful of Leaves (Vol. 4), Thanissaro Bhikkhu,
trans. (Santa Cruz: Sati Center for Buddhist Studies, 2003). Another popular
(though occasionally inaccurate) translation is H. Saddhatissa's The
Sutta-Nipata (London: Curzon Press, 1985). Some of the passages listed below
originally appeared in John Ireland's The Discourse Collection: Selected Texts
from the Sutta Nipata, (BPS "Wheel" Publication No. 82).
The braces {} contain the corresponding verse numbers in the original Pali text.
1. Uragavagga — The Snake Chapter
Sn 1.1: Uraga Sutta — The Snake {vv. 1-17} [Nyanaponika | Thanissaro]. One who
advances far along the path sheds unwholesome states of mind, as a snake sheds
its dried up old skin.
Sn 1.2: Dhaniya Sutta — Dhaniya the Cattleman {vv. 18-34} [Thanissaro]. A
poetic dialogue contrasting the wealth and security of lay life with the
wealth and security of a person who has lived the renunciate life to its
culmination. If you have trouble relating to someone like Dhaniya who measures
his wealth in cattle, then when reading this poem substitute stocks and bonds
for cows and bulls, and economic downturn for rain.
Sn 1.3: Khaggavisana Sutta — A Rhinoceros Horn {vv. 35-75} [Thanissaro]. On
the value of living the solitary wandering life of a forest monk.
Sn 1.4: Kasi Bharadvaja Sutta — To the Plowing Bharadvaja {vv. 76-82}
[Olendzki (excerpt) | Piyadassi | Thanissaro]. The Buddha answers a farmer who
asserts that monks do no useful work, and thus don't deserve to eat. (This
sutta also appears at SN 7.11.)
Sn 1.5: Cunda Sutta — To Cunda {vv. 83-90} [Thanissaro]. Four different types
of contemplatives and how to recognize them.
Sn 1.6: Parabhava Sutta — Downfall {vv. 91-115} [Narada | Piyadassi]. On the
various causes of spiritual decline that the aspirant must avoid.
Sn 1.7: Vasala Sutta — Discourse on Outcasts {vv. 116-142} [Piyadassi]. The
Buddha explains to a brahman what qualities really make one worthy of being
branded an "outcast."
Sn 1.8: Karaniya Metta Sutta — The Discourse on Loving Kindness {vv. 143-152}
[Amaravati | Buddharakkhita | Ñanamoli | Piyadassi | Thanissaro]. The
Buddha's words on cultivating a heart filled with loving-kindness (metta)
towards all beings. This sutta also appears at Khp 9.
Sn 1.10: Alavaka Sutta — To the Alavaka Yakkha {vv. 181-192} [Piyadassi |
Thanissaro]. A yakkha challenges the Buddha with riddles and threatens to beat
him up. (This sutta also appears at SN 10.12.)
Sn 1.11: Vijaya Sutta — Victory {vv. 193-206} [Thanissaro]. Reflecting on the
unattractiveness of the body as a way to gain insight.
Sn 1.12: Muni Sutta — The Sage {vv. 207-221} [Thanissaro]. The Buddha
describes the characteristics of the ideal sage, who finds greater happiness
and security not in relationships but in living the solitary contemplative
life. (This is one of the suttas selected by King Asoka (r. 270-232 BCE) to be
studied and reflected upon frequently by all practicing Buddhists. See That
the True Dhamma Might Last a Long Time: Readings Selected by King Asoka, by
Thanissaro Bhikkhu.)
2. Culavagga — The Lesser Chapter
Sn 2.1: Ratana Sutta — Treasures {vv. 222-238} [Piyadassi | Thanissaro]. The
Buddha enumerates the many treasures to be found within the Triple Gem.
Sn 2.3: Hiri Sutta — On Friendship {vv. 253-257} [Ireland | Thanissaro]. What
is a true friend?
Sn 2.4: Maha-mangala Sutta — Protection {vv. 258-269} [Narada | Piyadassi |
Soni | Thanissaro]. An enumeration of the blessings that result from leading a
skillful life.
Sn 2.6: Dhammacariya Sutta — Wrong Conduct {vv. 274-283} [Ireland]. The monks
are encouraged to avoid monks who conduct their lives in unwholesome ways.
Sn 2.8: Nava Sutta — A Boat {vv. 316-323} [Ireland | Thanissaro]. A teacher,
like a skilled boatman, is one who knows firsthand how to cross to the
opposite shore.
Sn 2.9: Kimsila Sutta — With What Virtue? {vv. 324-330} [Ireland |
Thanissaro]. The attitudes and behavior that enable one best to learn and
benefit from the Dhamma.
Sn 2.10: Utthana Sutta — Initiative {vv. 331-334} [Ireland | Thanissaro]. A
stirring exhortation to rekindle your efforts. Wake up!
Sn 2.11: Rahula Sutta — Advice to Rahula {vv. 335-342} [Ireland (excerpt)].
The Buddha recommends the recluse way of life to his son, Rahula.
Sn 2.14: Dhammika Sutta — Dhammika {vv. 376-404} [Ireland (excerpt)]. A lay
follower asks the Buddha how a disciple should act virtuously. The Buddha
explains.
3. Mahavagga — The Great Chapter
Sn 3.1: Pabbaja Sutta — The Going Forth {vv. 405-424} [Thanissaro]. King
Bimbisara, struck by the young Buddha's radiant demeanor, follows him to the
mountains to discover who he is and whence he comes.
Sn 3.2: Padhana Sutta — Exertion/The Great Struggle {vv. 425-449} [Ireland |
Thanissaro]. The ten armies of Mara approach the Bodhisatta (Buddha-to-be) in
an unsuccessful attempt to lure him from his meditation seat.
Sn 3.3: Subhasita Sutta — Well-spoken {vv. 450-454} [Thanissaro]. Four
characteristics of well-spoken speech.
Sn 3.8: Salla Sutta — The Arrow {vv. 574-593} [Ireland | Thanissaro]. Death
and loss are inevitable, but is grief?
Sn 3.11: Nalaka Sutta — To Nalaka {vv. 679-723} [Olendzki (excerpt) |
Thanissaro]. A sutta in two parts. The first part gives an account of events
soon after the birth of the Bodhisatta (Buddha-to-be). The second part
describes the way of the sage.
Sn 3.12: Dvayatanupassana Sutta — The Contemplation of Dualities {vv. 724-765}
[Ireland (excerpt) | Olendzki (excerpt) | Thanissaro]. Not all dualities are
misleading. This sutta teaches ways to contemplate the duality of the
origination and cessation of stress and suffering so as to reach Awakening.
4. Atthaka Vagga — The Octet Chapter
See The Atthaka Vagga — The Octet Chapter: An Introduction, by Thanissaro
Bhikkhu.
Sn 4.1: Kama Sutta — Sensual Pleasure {vv. 766-771} [Thanissaro]. The
drawbacks of sensual desires.
Sn 4.2: Guhatthaka Sutta — The Cave of the Body {vv. 772-779} [Thanissaro].
Those who remain attached to the body and to sensuality will have a hard time
freeing themselves from fear of death and from further becoming.
Sn 4.3: Dutthatthaka Sutta — Corrupted {vv. 780-787} [Thanissaro]. Freedom
isn't to be found by boasting of your precepts and practices or by debating
your views.
Sn 4.4: Suddhatthaka Sutta — Pure {vv. 788-795} [Ireland | Thanissaro].
Although freedom is found by means of knowledge and meditation, in ultimate
terms it lies beyond both.
Sn 4.5: Paramatthaka Sutta — Supreme {vv. 796-803} [Ireland | Thanissaro]. The
conceit that comes from identifying with practices or views — even if they're
supreme — is a fetter preventing full freedom.
Sn 4.6: Jara Sutta — Old Age {vv. 804-813} [Ireland | Thanissaro]. Life is
short. Possessiveness brings grief. Freedom comes from abandoning any sense of
mine.
Sn 4.7: Tissa Metteyya Sutta — Tissa Metteyya {vv. 814-823} [Thanissaro]. The
drawbacks of falling away from the celibate life.
Sn 4.8: Pasura Sutta — To Pasura {vv. 824-834} [Thanissaro]. The Buddha points
out the drawbacks of disputes, for winners and losers, alike.
Sn 4.9: Magandiya Sutta — To Magandiya {vv. 835-847} [Thanissaro]. Magandiya
offers the Buddha his daughter in marriage. The Buddha refuses and further
subdues Magandiya's pride by describing the attainment of highest purity in
terms that Magandiya can't yet understand.
Sn 4.10: Purabheda Sutta — Before the Break-up of the Body {vv. 848-861}
[Thanissaro]. What enables a person to live at peace?
Sn 4.11: Kalaha-vivada Sutta — Quarrels & Disputes {vv. 862-877} [Ireland |
Thanissaro]. The Buddha is questioned on the source of quarrels and disputes,
and on the highest level of spiritual attainment.
Sn 4.12: Cula-viyuha Sutta — The Lesser Array {vv. 878-894} [Thanissaro]. If
there is one truth, how should a person behave in a world where many different
truths are taught?
Sn 4.13: Maha-viyuha Sutta — The Great Array {vv. 895-914} [Thanissaro]. How
to maintain freedom in a world full of disputes.
Sn 4.14: Tuvataka Sutta — Quickly {vv. 915-934} [Thanissaro]. A detailed
description of the attitudes and behavior of a monk training for the sake of
total liberation.
Sn 4.15: Attadanda Sutta — The Rod Embraced {vv. 935-954} [Ireland | Olendzki
(excerpt) | Thanissaro]. The Buddha speaks in poignant terms of the samvega
that led him to abandon the home life. He concludes with recommendations for
practice and a description of the person who has attained the goal of true
peace and security.
Sn 4.16: Sariputta Sutta — To Sariputta {vv. 955-975} [Thanissaro]. When a
monk, disaffected with the world, takes up the life of seclusion, what fears
should he overcome? How should he train to annihilate the darkness in his
heart?
5. Parayanavagga — The Chapter on the Way to the Far Shore
See The Parayanavagga — The Chapter on the Way to the Far Shore: An
Introduction, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
Sn 5.1: Ajita-manava-puccha — Ajita's Questions {vv. 1032-1039} [Ireland |
Thanissaro]. The Buddha summarizes the essence of Dhamma training: "Not
craving for sensual pleasures, and with a mind that is pure and tranquil."
Sn 5.2: Tissa-metteyya-manava-puccha — Tissa-metteyya's Questions {vv.
1040-1042} [Thanissaro]. Who in the world is truly contented, truly free,
truly a great person?
Sn 5.3: Punnaka-manava-puccha — Punnaka's Questions {vv. 1043-1048} [Ireland |
Thanissaro]. The Buddha explains that birth and aging can never be transcended
by performing hopeful rituals, but only by extinguishing the fires of greed,
hatred, and delusion.
Sn 5.4: Mettagu-manava-puccha — Mettagu's Questions {vv. 1049-1060} [Ireland
| Thanissaro]. How does one cross the flood of birth and old age, sorrow and
grief?
Sn 5.5: Dhotaka-manava-puccha — Dhotaka's Questions {vv. 1061-1068}
[Thanissaro]. How can one become freed of all doubt?
Sn 5.6: Upasiva-manava-puccha — Upasiva's Questions {vv. 1069-1076}
[Thanissaro]. What support should one hold on to in order to cross over the
raging flood of craving?
Sn 5.7: Nanda-manava-puccha — Nanda's Questions {vv. 1077-1083} [Thanissaro].
Who, exactly, deserves to be called "wise": One who is learned? One who
observes certain precepts and practices? Who?
Sn 5.8: Hemaka-manava-puccha — Hemaka's Question {vv. 1084-1087} [Thanissaro].
How can we demolish craving and free ourselves from entanglement with the
world?
Sn 5.9: Toddeya-manava-puccha — Toddeya's Question {vv. 1088-1091}
[Thanissaro]. So — what's it like, being emancipated, anyway?
Sn 5.10: Kappa-manava-puccha — Kappa's Question {vv. 1092-1095} [Thanissaro].
Is there anywhere safe to stand where we won't be swept away by aging and
death?
Sn 5.11: Jatukanni-manava-puccha — Jatukannin's Question {vv. 1096-1100}
[Thanissaro]. How does one abandon birth and aging?
Sn 5.12: Bhadravudha-manava-puccha — Bhadravudha's Question {vv. 1101-1104}
[Thanissaro]. Bhadravudha asks of the Buddha: How did you come to know the
Dhamma?
Sn 5.13: Udaya-manava-puccha — Udaya's Questions {vv. 1105-1111} [Thanissaro].
In what way should one live mindfully, so as to bring about Awakening?
Sn 5.14: Posala-manava-puccha — Posala's Questions {vv. 1112-1115}
[Thanissaro]. How does one develop insight after mastering the higher levels
of jhana?
Sn 5.15: Mogharaja-manava-puccha — Mogharaja's Questions {vv. 1116-1119}
[Ireland | Thanissaro]. How should one view the world so as to escape Death's
grasp?
Sn 5.16: Pingiya-manava-puccha — Pingiya's Questions {vv. 1120-1123} [Ireland
| Thanissaro]. Alarmed by the deterioration of his aging body, Pingiya asks
the Buddha how to conquer birth and decay.
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