A Systematic Study of the Majjhima Nikaya

Where we gather to focus on a single discourse or thematic collection from the Sutta Piṭaka (new selection every two weeks)
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mikenz66
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A Systematic Study of the Majjhima Nikaya

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A Systematic Study of the Majjhima Nikaya
Exploring the Word of the Buddha


Bhikkhu Bodhi
  • Bhikkhu Bodhi gave an excellent series of talks on the Majjhima Nikaya an few years ago, which you can find here.

    Below are links to Sutta Central which will lead to freely available on-line versions of the Suttas, many from the translation by Bhikkhu Nanamoli and Bhikkhu Bodhi.

    This list serves as an excellent thematic classification of the Majjhima Nikaya.
This series of lectures explores the direct teachings of the Buddha himself as preserved in some of the oldest records of his discourses. The first part of the series, covering fifty-two of the discourses (Parts I to IX), constitutes a systematic study program in the teachings of Early Buddhism. The later part of the series (Part X) takes selected discourses from the book in sequence, explaining their meaning and practical relevance.

The talks cover all the major teachings of Early Buddhism, including:
  • Life of the Buddha
    Fundamental Ethics
    Meditation and Mind-training
    Nature of True Wisdom
I. The Buddha’s Enlightenment

MN 26 Ariyapariyesana Sutta
MN 4 Bhayabherava Sutta
MN 36 Mahasaccaka Sutta
MN 12 Mahāsīhanāda Sutta:

II. Approaching the Dhamma

1. Making wise choices
AN 3.65 Kalama Sutta
MN 60 The Incontrovertible Teachings
2. Test the Buddha himself
MN 47 The Inquirer
3. Faith, practice, and attainment
MN 95 With Canki

III. The Ethical Life

1. Four ways of life
MN 46 Mahādhammasamādāna Sutta
2. Karma and its results
MN 57 Kukkuravatika Sutta
MN 135 Cūḷakammavibhanga Sutta
3. The path to a higher rebirth
MN 41 Sāleyyaka Sutta
4. Right speech and patience
MN 61 Ambalaṭṭhikārāhulovāda Sutta
MN 21 Kakacūpama Sutta

IV. Deepening One’s Perspectives on the World

1. The faults of the worldly life
MN 13 Mahādukkhakkhanda Sutta
2. The shortcomings in sensual pleasures
MN 54 Potaliya Sutta
MN 75 Māgandiya Sutta
3. The misery of saṃsāra
MN 15 Anamataggasaṃyutta Sutta
4. Raṭṭhapāla and the call to renunciation
MN 82 Raṭṭhapāla Sutta

V. The Path to Liberation

1. The purpose of the spiritual life
MN 63 Cūḷamālunkya sutta
MN 29 Mahāsāropama Sutta
2. The gradual training
MN 27 Cūḷahatthipadopama Sutta
MN 39 Mahā-Assapura Sutta
3. What makes one a monk?
MN 40 Cūḷa-Assapura Sutta
4. The benefits of virtue
MN 6 Ākankheyya Sutta
5. Purifying the mind
MN 19 Dvedhāvitakka
MN 20 Vitakkasaṇṭhāna
MN 7 Vatthūpama Sutta
MN 8 Sallekha Sutta
6. Eliminating the taints
MN 2 Sabbāsava Sutta

VI. The Practice in Detail

1. The Noble Eightfold Path
MN 117 Mahācattārīsaka Sutta
2. The way of mindfulness
MN 10 Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta
3. Mindfulness of breathing
MN 118 Ānāpānasati Sutta
4. The aids to enlightenment, etc.
MN 77 Mahāsakuludāyi Sutta

VII. The Cultivation of Wisdom

1. Right view
MN 9 Sammādiṭṭhi Sutta
MN 11 Cūḷasīhanāda Sutta
MN 22 Alaggūpama Sutta
MN 38 Mahātaṇhāsankhaya Sutta
2. Penetrative insight
MN 148 Chachakka Sutta
MN 146 Nandakovāda Sutta
MN 149 Mahāsaḷāyatanika Sutta
MN 28 Mahāhatthipadopama Sutta
MN 64 Mahāmalunkya Sutta
3. Final realization
MN 52 Aṭṭhakanāgara Sutta
MN 140 Dhātuvibhanga Sutta
4. A typology of persons
MN 1 Mūlapariyāya Sutta
5. A typology of noble disciples
MN 70 Kīṭāgiri Sutta

VIII. The Tathagata

MN 12 Mahāsīhanāda Sutta

IX. Life in the Sangha

1. Monks living in harmony
MN 31 Cūḷagosinga Sutta
2. The ideal monk
MN 32 Mahagosinga Sutta
3. A recalcitrant monk
MN 65 Bhaddāli Sutta
4. Guidelines for future harmony
MN 104 Sāmagāma Sutta
5. After the Buddha’s parinibbāna
MN 108 Gopakamoggallāna Sutta
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Mkoll
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Re: A Systematic Study of the Majjhima Nikaya

Post by Mkoll »

Good recommendation.

I listen to this in my car. :thumbsup:
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
starter
Posts: 938
Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2010 9:56 pm

Re: A Systematic Study of the Majjhima Nikaya

Post by starter »

Greetings!

I happened to compare an older lecture and a recent lecture on MN 117 by Ven. Bodhi, and noticed significant change. So I thought it might be interesting for the readers to listen to his recent lectures on MN:

http://www.noblepath.org/audio.html

Metta to all!

:anjali:
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