MABAs Mahayana Buddhism Study Group

In the Buddhas Words

An Anthology of Dicourses from the Pali Canon
Translated and Edited by Bhikkhu Bodhi

Notes for Chapter 1 Lessons 1 4 (April 3rd 24th) Brief introduction of the Five Nikayas
The Tipitaka (Three Baskets): Vinaya Suttanta The Five Nikayas Abhidhamma

The Five Nikayas 1. Digha Nikaya (The collection of long discourses) Made up of 34 long discourses Divided into 3 divisions: a. Silakkhanda Vagga Division concerning Morality Consists of 13 Suttas b. Maha Vagga The Large Division Consists of 10 Suttas c. Pathika Vagga The Division beginning with the discourse on Pathika, the Naked Ascetic consists of 11 Suttas The collection is oriented toward potential new-Buddhists. 6 Suttas will be studied 2. Majjihma Nikaya (The collection of middle length discourses) Made up of 152 Sutta in 3 books known as Pannasa a. Mulapannasa First 50 Suttas in Five Vaggas b. Majjhimapannasa Consists of the Second 50 Suttas in Five Vaggas c. 3) Upaipannasa Means more than fifty The collection oriented toward educating monastics in the practices and teachings of the Sangha. 35 Suttas will be studied 3. Samyutta Nikaya (The connected discourses) Arranged in the order according to subject matters into five divisions: a. Sagatha Vagga The Book with Verses b. Nidana Vagga The Book of Causation c. Khandha Vagga The Book of the Aggregates d. Salayatana Vagga The Book of the Six Sense Bases e. Maha Vagga The Great Book

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Each major vagga (Chapter) is divided into fifty-six groups known as samyutta related subjects grouped together Suttas or discourses are grouped under each samyutta in their related subject matter. The collection oriented toward doctrinal specialists and those focusing on meditative attainments. 61 Suttas will be studied 4. Anguttara Nikaya (The numerical discourses) Divided into eleven divisions; known as nipatas; in progressive numerical order moving one unit up at a time, therefore it is also called One Up Nikaya: 1. Ekaka Nipata Chapter of the Ones 2. Duka Nipata Chapter of the Twos 3. Tika Nipata Chapter of the Threes 4. Catukka Nipata etc 5. Pancaka Nipata 6. Chakka Nipata 7. Sattaka Nipata 8. Attthaka Nipata 9. Navaka Nipata 10. Dasaka Nipata 11. Ekadasaka Niparta An important source book on Buddhist psychology and ethics. Provides an enumerated summary of all the essential features concerning the theory and practice of the Dhamma, including teaching specific to family and lay life. 49 Suttas will be studied 5. Khuddaka Nikaya (The minor collection, even though it is the largest of the Nikayas.) The Vinaya and Abhidhamma are also included in this collection Containing not only the discourses by the Buddha, but also compilations of brief doctrinal notes mostly in verses. Contains 18 treaties which are not included in the first four Nikaya: a. Khuddaka Patha b. Dhammapada c. Udana d. Itivuttaka e. Suttanipata f. Vimanavatthu g. Petavatthu h. Theragatha i. Terigatha j. Jataka

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k. Niddesa (Maha, Cula) l. Patisambhida Magga m. Apandana n. Buddhavamsa o. Cariya Pitaka p. Netti q. Petakopadesa r. Milinda Panha 7 Suttas from Itivuttaka and 3 Suttas from Udana will be studied

Chapter I: The Human Condition Lesson 1: Old Age, Illness and Death
Key Concepts: Aging, Illness and Death are law of nature; live by the Dhamma; yoniso manasikara (careful attention) (1) Aging and Death [SN 3:3] Once being born, no one can be free from Aging and Death. (2) The Simile of the Mountain [SN 3:25] 1. Human state is difficult to obtain 2. No victory in battling over Aging and Death 3. No other choice but to live by the Dhamma, righteously and do wholesome and meritorious deeds in life Suttas (1) and (2) are discourses to King Kosala by the Buddha. (3) The Divine Messengers [AN3:35] 1. Three Divine Messengers: Old Age, Illness and Death 2. Human beings usually do not see these divine messengers due to negligence 3. Ignorantly, unwholesome deeds are performed and wholesome and meritorious deeds are neglected Discussion Questions: 1. What is it about birth and death that we should perform noble deeds? 2. What does the term yoniso manasikara mean in everyday experiences? 3. What do the three Divine Messengers represent? 4. Why human state is difficult to obtain? 5. What does it mean to live by the Dhamma?

Lesson 2: Tribulations of Unreflective Living

(1) The Dart of Painful Feeling [SN36:6]
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Key Concepts: Suffering (Dukka) and the choice of suffering 1. Two types of pain: Body and mental 2. Three Underlying tendencies: Craving or lust toward sensual pleasure Aversion toward pain Ignorance in regard to neither-painful-non-pleasant feelings 3. The Three moments: Gratification Danger Escape 4. The difference between an uninstructed worldling and an instructed noble disciple: one feels two types of pain, one only feels one type of pain. (2) Vicissitudes of Life [AN 8:6] Key Concepts: Impermanent (anicca); the eight worldly conditions. 1. Eight worldly conditions (four pairs of opposites): Gain and Loss Fame and Disrepute Praise and Blame Pleasure and Pain 2. Noble disciple sees: all conditions are impermanent, bound up with suffering and subject to change. s/he experiences feelings as detached. 3. Take things as they are. non attachment (feelings do not engross the mind) (3) Anxiety Due to Change [SN22:7] Key Concepts: No Self (Anatta); five aggregates 1. All five aggregates are not self 2. No clinging, therefore no agitation, no fear, no craving Discussion Questions: 1. Is suffering a choice? 2. How does the uninstructed worldling react to pain? 3. How do these three moments (gratification, danger, and escape) related to the Four Noble Truth? 4. By means of what can one escape? 5. How does the Instructed Noble disciple face the Eight Worldly Conditions? 6. What are the three Dhamma Seals? 7. What are the Five Aggregates? 8. How do the Noble Disciples different from an ordinary practitioner?

Lesson 3: A world in Turmoil

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(1) The Origin of Conflict [AN2:iv, 6, abridged] Key Concepts: Attachment; right view/wrong view. 1. Ordinary people experience craving and cling to sensual pleasure 2. Practitioners (monastics) attach to their beliefs and views 3. Therefore, conflicts arises. (2) Why Do Beings Live in Hate? [DN 21: Sakkapantha Sutta] Key Concepts: The causation processes: from papanca to hatred. 1. Envy and niggardliness give rise to Hatred 2. Preferences give rise to envy and niggardliness 3. Desire give rise to liking or disliking 4. Thinking give rise to desire 5. Elaborated perceptions and notions (papanca) give rise to thinking 6. Three factors are responsible for elaborated perceptions (papanca) a. Craving b. Conceit c. Distorted Views (3) The Dark Chain of Causation [DN15: Mahanidana Sutta] Key Concepts: The causation process: from feeling to hatred and conflict 1. Feeling as the cause for craving 2. Reverse the process 3. Concluded in the result of conflict and hatred (4) The Roots of Violence and Oppression [AN3:69] Key Concepts: Unwholesome acts of body, speech and mind 1. Any unwholesome mental volition leads to unwholesome physical actions. 2. All form of greed, aversion, and delusion are unwholesome. Discussion Questions: 1. What is the purpose of understanding the process of causation? Where in the chain can we act differently? 2. What is right effort when it comes to causation? What is right view? 3. What would a world without conflict look like? How would we interact with each other?

Lesson 4: Without Discoverable Beginning

Key Concepts: It is more important to come out the misery than to search for the beginning or lasting of the Samsara 1. More important to liberate ourselves from craving, aversion and ignorance than to contemplate the origin of existence. 2. The Beginning is not findable, as the beginning of our defilements are not findable. a. Therefore, an end to Samsara (the wandering) is also not findable.
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3. Samsara is the uninterruptedly occurring succession of the aggregates. 4. Knowing of the endlessness of the cycle of Samsara, is enough to become disenchanted with all formations enough to become dispassionate toward them, enough to be liberated from them. 5. Suttas (1) through (5) are examples used by the Buddha in regard to the key concept. 1. Grass and Sticks [SN 15:1] 2. Balls of Clay [SN 15:2] 3. The Mountain [SN 15:] 4. The River Ganges [SN 15:8] 5. Dog on a Leash [SN 22:99] Discussion Questions: 1. What does samsara mean? 2. Why is it enough to become disenchanted with all formations? What do formations have to do with samsara? 3. Why is there no discoverable beginning to samsara? How is that possible? 4. What is the purpose of understanding the endless cycle of birth and death?

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