Original texts without discourses

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Dragonskin
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Joined: Sun Jun 02, 2013 9:50 pm

Original texts without discourses

Post by Dragonskin »

Hello,
In trying to study Buddha's teachings, it feels like I am jumping back and forth through it. I would like to study his original teachings, without discourse, from beginning to end. Can you suggest a book/s ( I would prefer hard copy to e-books). Currently I am trying to fathom the Abhidhamma, but feel I must return to basics and study just Dhamma.
Many thanks.
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Ben
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Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:49 am
Location: kanamaluka

Re: Original texts without discourses

Post by Ben »

I'm not sure I understand your question.
If you want to study the Buddha's original teachings then you will need to refer to the canonical literature. It may benefit you to use Bhikkhu Bodhi's series on the Majjhima Nikaya which is a thematic exploration of the MN. http://bodhimonastery.org/a-systematic- ... ikaya.html

Bhikkhu Bodhi has also published an anthology of the Buddha's core discourses "In the Buddha's Words".
kind regards,

Ben
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

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mikenz66
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Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2009 7:37 am
Location: Aotearoa, New Zealand

Re: Original texts without discourses

Post by mikenz66 »

Hi Dragonskin,

Do you mean you want to read all of the Suttas (discourses) of the Buddha?
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sutta.html

English translations of the first four Nikayas are here:
http://www.wisdompubs.org/pages/c_teachings.lasso
and the books of the Khuddaka Nikaya are available in various places.
See: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/index.html

Personally, I found Bhikkhu Bodhi's collection of suttas (he is responsible for many of the translations listed above) In the Buddha's Words to be invaluable in making sense of the overall layout of the Nikayas.
http://www.wisdompubs.org/pages/display ... yValue=104

See also :
Befriending the Suttas
Tips on Reading the Pali Discourses
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/befriending.html

:anjali:
Mike
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Kamran
Posts: 471
Joined: Fri Oct 07, 2011 3:14 am

Re: Original texts without discourses

Post by Kamran »

Sati Center distributes a wonderful 5 volume anthology by Thanissaro Bikhu for free. You just have to send a letter requesting the books from below.

http://www.sati.org/books/

"Handful of Leaves, Volume I, Ajaan Thanissaro’s translation of selections from the Digha and Majjhima Nikayas (Middle Length and Long Discourses), has been sent to people in over a dozen countries on six continents, and in many of the United States during the past few months. Volumes II, III, IV and V are now available for distribution. Volume II contains selections from the Samyutta Nikaya (Connected Discourses) and Volume III has suttas from the Anguttara Nikaya (Numerical Collection of Discourses). Volume IV contains selections from the Khuddaka Nikaya (Short Collection) and Volume V contains an anthology from the Five Nikayas."
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