Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha

A Translation of the Majjhima Nikaya

English language

Published June 28, 2005 by Wisdom Publications.

ISBN:
978-0-86171-982-2
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5 stars (1 review)

From the publisher:

This book offers a complete translation of the Majjhima Nikāya, or Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha, one of the major collections of texts in the Pali Canon, the authorized scriptures of Theravāda Buddhism. This collection—among the oldest records of the historical Buddha’s original teachings—consists of 152 suttas or discourses of middle length, distinguished as such from the longer and shorter suttas of the other collections. The Majjhima Nikāya might be concisely described as the Buddhist scripture that combines the richest variety of contextual settings with the deepest and most comprehensive assortment of teachings. These teachings, which range from basic ethics to instructions in meditation and liberating insight, unfold in a fascinating procession of scenarios that show the Buddha in living dialogue with people from many different strata of ancient Indian society: with kings and princes, priests and ascetics, simple villagers and erudite philosophers. Replete with drama, …

1 edition

An excellent place to get started reading the suttas

5 stars

This book of 152 sermons of the Buddha and his disciples is an excellent place to start for anyone serious about reading the suttas. Topics cover a wide range of doctrinal points as well as lots of practical advice for meditation and daily life as a disciple of the Buddha.

It works especially well as a one-chapter-a-day book for a daily sutta reading practice. Get some suggestions for reading here: readingfaithfully.org/majjhima-nikaya-as-daily-practice/

As of 2022, this is the only print book that contains the complete collection of suttas in the Majjhima Nikaya.