the teachings of the buddha Aṭṭhakavagga, the Pārāyanavagga, and the This landmark volume in the Teachings of the Rhinoceros Horn Sutta. Buddha series translates the Suttanipāta, a The Translator Bhikkhu Bodhi provides an text that matches the Dhammapada in its con- insightful, in-depth introduction, a guide to Suttanipaˉta cise power of expression and its centrality to the individual suttas, extensive notes, a list the Buddhist tradition. Celebrated transla- of parallels to the discourses of the Sutta- The tor Bhikkhu Bodhi illuminates this text and nipāta, and a list of the numerical sets men- its classical commentaries with elegant ren- tioned in the commentaries. Suttanipa¯ ta derings and authoritative annotations. The Suttanipāta, or “Group of Discourses,” Bhikkhu Bodhi is an American Buddhist is a collection of discourses ascribed to the monk originally from New York City. Buddha that includes some of the most pop- Ordained in 1972 in Sri Lanka, where he An Ancient Collection of the ular suttas of the Pāli Canon, among them lived for over twenty years, he was the the Discourse on Loving-Kindness. The sut- Buddha’s Discourses long-time president and chief editor for tas are primarily in verse, though several the Buddhist Publication Society in Kandy. are in mixed prose and verse. The Sutta- together with its He currently resides at Chuang Yen Mon- nipāta contains discourses that extol the astery in upstate New York. Renowned for commentaries figure of the muni, the illumined sage, who his systematic and elegant translations of wanders homeless completely detached Buddhist texts, Venerable Bodhi has many from the world. Other suttas, such as the important publications to his credit, includ- Discourse on Downfall and the Discourse on Translated from the Paˉli by ing The Middle Length Discourses of the Bud- An Ancient Collection of the Blessings, establish the foundations of Bud- dha, The Connected Discourses of the Buddha, Bhikkhu Bodhi dhist lay ethics. The last two chapters—the The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha, The Buddha’s Discourses Aṭṭhakavagga (Chapter of Octads) and the Buddha’s Teachings on Social and Communal Pārāyana vagga (The Chapter on the Way to Harmony, and In the Buddha’s Words. the Beyond)—are considered to be among together with its the most ancient parts of the Pāli Canon. commentaries The Aṭṭhakavagga advocates a critical attitude toward views and doctrines. The Pārāyana vagga is a beautiful poem in which • sixteen spiritual seekers travel across India Wisdom Publications, a not-for-profit publisher, to meet the Buddha and ask him profound is dedicated to making available authentic Bud- Translated from the Paˉli by questions pertaining to the highest goal. dhist works for the benefit of all. We publish The commentary, the Paramatthajotikā, translations of the sutras and tantras, commen- For sale only in Sri Lanka and India. Bhikkhu Bodhi relates the background story to each sutta taries and teachings of past and contemporary Buddhist masters, and original works by the NOT FOR EXPORT. and explains each verse in detail. The vol- ume includes numerous excerpts from the world’s leading Buddhist scholars. We publish ISBN 978-1-61429-429-0 our titles with the appreciation of Buddhism as a Niddesa, an ancient commentary already living philosophy and with the special commit- included in the Pāli Canon, which offers ment to preserve and transmit important works detailed expositions of each verse in the from all the major Buddhist traditions. continues on back flap The Suttanipa¯ ta THE TEACHINGS OF THE BUDDHA SERIES The Buddha’s Teachings on Social and Communal Harmony: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pāli Canon The Connected Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Saṃyutta Nikāya Great Disciples of the Buddha: Their Lives, Their Works, Their Legacy In the Buddha’s Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pāli Canon The Long Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Dīgha Nikāya The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Majjhima Nikāya The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Aṅguttara Nikāya THE TEACHINGS OF THE BUDDHA The Suttanipaˉta An Ancient Collection of the Buddha’s Discourses Together with Its Commentaries Paramatthajotikā II and excerpts from the Niddesa • Translated from the Pa¯li by Bhikkhu Bodhi Wisdom Publications 199 Elm Street Somerville, MA 02144 USA wisdompubs.org © 2017 Bhikkhu Bodhi All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photography, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system or technologies now known or later developed, without permission in writing from the publisher. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available. LCCN 2016048003 ISBN 978-1-61429-429-0 ebook ISBN 978-1-61429-454-2 21 20 19 18 17 5 4 3 2 1 Design by Gopa&Ted2. Set in TexGyrePagella 10/12.4. Dedicated to the memory of two departed friends from my time in Sri Lanka Ayyā Nyānasirī (1932–2004) An American Buddhist woman who lived in Sri Lanka from 1978 until her death in 2004. An editorial assis- tant for the Buddhist Publication Society, ordained as a ten-p recept nun in 1987, an inspiration to many of the English-s peaking Sri Lankan Buddhist women in Kandy and Colombo, she was a great admirer of the Suttanipāta who aspired to follow the muni ideal. Bhikkhu Sumedha (1932–2006) A Swiss bhikkhu who lived in Sri Lanka from 1974 until his death in 2006, resident at the Manāpadassana Cave near Doolwala, Kandy district. A brilliant artist with paint, brush, and words, a Dhamma teacher with keen insight into the teachings, he was also a monk of deep compassion who served as spiritual guide to doctors and patients at the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital. Wherever these two departed friends may now be dwelling, may they rejoice in the knowledge that this translation is dedicated to their memory. Publisher’s Acknowledgment The publisher gratefully acknowledges the generous help of the Hershey Family Foundation in sponsoring the production of this book. Contents Preface 13 Key to the Pronunciation of Pāli 21 Abbreviations 23 Introduction 27 A Guide to the Suttas 95 The Suttanipāta I. The Chapter on the Serpent 157 1. The Serpent 157 2. Dhaniya 159 3. The Rhinoceros Horn 162 4. Kasibhāradvāja 167 5. Cunda 170 6. Downfall 171 7. The Outcast 174 8. Loving-Kindness 179 9. Hemavata 180 10. Āḷavaka 185 11. Victory 187 12. The Muni 189 II. The Minor Chapter 193 1. Gems 193 2. Carrion 196 3. Moral Shame 198 4. Blessings 198 5. Sūciloma 200 6. Righteous Conduct 201 7. The Tradition of the Brahmins 203 8 The Suttanipāta 8. The Boat 208 9. What Good Behavior? 209 10. Arouse Yourselves! 210 11. Rāhula 211 12. Vaṅgīsa 212 13. Proper Wandering 215 14. Dhammika 217 III. The Great Chapter 223 1. The Going Forth 223 2. Striving 225 3. Well Spoken 229 4. Sundarikabhāradvāja 230 5. Māgha 236 6. Sabhiya 241 7. Sela 249 8. The Dart 257 9. Vāseṭṭha 260 10. Kokālika 269 11. Nālaka 274 12. Contemplation of Dyads 280 IV. The Chapter of Octads 291 1. Sensual Pleasures 291 2. The Octad on the Cave 292 3. The Octad on the Hostile 293 4. The Octad on the Pure 294 5. The Octad on the Supreme 295 6. Old Age 296 7. Tissa Metteyya 298 8. Pasūra 299 9. Māgandiya 300 10. Before the Breakup 303 11. Quarrels and Disputes 304 12. The Smaller Discourse on Deployment 307 13. The Greater Discourse on Deployment 309 14. Quickly 312 15. One Who Has Taken Up the Rod 315 16. Sāriputta 317 Contents 9 V. The Chapter on the Way to the Beyond 321 Introductory Verses 321 1. The Questions of Ajita 328 2. The Questions of Tissa Metteyya 329 3. The Questions of Puṇṇaka 330 4. The Questions of Mettagū 331 5. The Questions of Dhotaka 333 6. The Questions of Upasīva 334 7. The Questions of Nanda 336 8. The Questions of Hemaka 337 9. The Questions of Todeyya 338 10. The Questions of Kappa 339 11. The Questions of Jatukaṇṇī 339 12. The Questions of Bhadrāvudha 340 13. The Questions of Udaya 341 14. The Questions of Posāla 342 15. The Questions of Mogharāja 343 16. The Questions of Piṅgiya 343 Epilogue 344 Elucidator of the Supreme Meaning (Paramatthajotikā II) The Commentary to the Suttanipāta The Purpose of This Work 351 I. The Chapter on the Serpent 353 1. The Serpent 355 2. Dhaniya 381 3. The Rhinoceros Horn 401 4. Kasibhāradvāja 497 5. Cunda 527 6. Downfall 537 7. Aggikabhāradvāja (The Outcast) 545 8. Loving-Kindness 565 9. Hemavata 585 10. Āḷavaka 609 11. Victory 633 12. The Muni 647