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Nikayas

Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 6:20 am
by indian_buddhist
Hello,

I have Digha Nikaya, Majjima, Anguttara Nikaya with me right now and Samayutta Nikaya will arrive in the next month or so.

Can anyone tell me if I can start with Digha Nikaya/Majjhima Nikaya and then later refer to Samyutta Nikaya or is SN important not to ignore since I will have access to it only after month....

Re: Nikayas

Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 6:26 am
by retrofuturist
Greetings,

Given what you've said, my recommended sequence would be MN, SN, AN, DN.

Metta,
Retro. :)

Re: Nikayas

Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 7:23 am
by indian_buddhist
retrofuturist wrote:Greetings,

Given what you've said, my recommended sequence would be MN, SN, AN, DN.

Metta,
Retro. :)
Thanks.

Re: Nikayas

Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 9:29 am
by Bhikkhu Pesala
I recommend just following your heart — read whatever engages your interest. Don't restrict yourself by following any unnatural pattern. The Buddha did not start by teaching the Brahmajāla Sutta, then the Sāmaññaphala Sutta, etc. He taught to suit his audience, as the occasion arose.

Re: Nikayas

Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 9:43 am
by daverupa
Whomever the Buddha taught, he taught gradually, according to where they were, as the Venerable says.

So, I would study up on the gradual training, begin doing it, and use the rest of your resources to resolve questions based on that beginning.

:heart:

Re: Nikayas

Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 10:24 am
by indian_buddhist
daverupa wrote:Whomever the Buddha taught, he taught gradually, according to where they were, as the Venerable says.

So, I would study up on the gradual training, begin doing it, and use the rest of your resources to resolve questions based on that beginning.

:heart:
Thank you all for your very kind replies and help.

I want to go deeper into the Dhamma. But right now I am in Home (not homelessness). Can I still study these great scriptures?. The thing is NOT that I am not interested. The fact is that I am deeply interested. Can a Layman study the Nikayas?.

Re: Nikayas

Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 10:44 am
by Bhikkhu Pesala
indian_buddhist wrote:I want to go deeper into the Dhamma. But right now I am in Home (not homelessness). Can I still study these great scriptures?. The thing is NOT that I am not interested. The fact is that I am deeply interested. But there is one more thing, the thing that I could be married in the future - (In 1 year maybe). I do not want to disrespect the Dhamma by studying the scriptures and then get married.
Married or not, one should study the Suttas and practice meditation.

If you're thinking of getting married, better study the Kāma Sutta. :hug:

Re: Nikayas

Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 10:46 am
by mikenz66
Of course you can study them. I found Bhikkhu Bodhi's collection In the Buddha's Words to be invaluable when starting, as he lays out the suttas in a gradual training format.
However, since you have, or will have, most of Nikayas anyway, you could use this thread:
In the Buddha's Words - Open Source Version
as an initial guide to get started. Bhikkhu Bodhi's introductory comments for each chapter are linked there.
As explained in post, Bhikkhu Bodhi has a series of talks based on that book. He also has a series on the Majjhima Nikaya that follows the same pattern:
http://bodhimonastery.org/a-systematic- ... ikaya.html

As Bhikkhu Pesala says, you eventually have to follow your heart. However, I have found guidance from experts invaluable.

:anjali:
Mike

Re: Nikayas

Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 10:47 am
by indian_buddhist
Bhikkhu Pesala wrote:
indian_buddhist wrote:I want to go deeper into the Dhamma. But right now I am in Home (not homelessness). Can I still study these great scriptures?. The thing is NOT that I am not interested. The fact is that I am deeply interested. But there is one more thing, the thing that I could be married in the future - (In 1 year maybe). I do not want to disrespect the Dhamma by studying the scriptures and then get married.
Married or not, one should study the Suttas and practice meditation.

If you're thinking of getting married, better study the Kāma Sutta. :hug:
I am sorry for deeply offending you Ven. Bhikkhu. As you can see I have no control over my tongue. I will try to maintain the dignity which is suitable for understanding the Dhamma.

Re: Nikayas

Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 11:21 am
by Bhikkhu Pesala
indian_buddhist wrote:I am sorry for deeply offending you Ven. Bhikkhu. As you can see I have no control over my tongue. I will try to maintain the dignity which is suitable for understanding the Dhamma.
What are you talking about? What did you say to offend me even slightly, let alone deeply? There seems to be a language problem or culture gap here.

Re: Nikayas

Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 11:31 am
by indian_buddhist
Bhikkhu Pesala wrote:
indian_buddhist wrote:I am sorry for deeply offending you Ven. Bhikkhu. As you can see I have no control over my tongue. I will try to maintain the dignity which is suitable for understanding the Dhamma.
What are you talking about? What did you say to offend me even slightly, let alone deeply? There seems to be a language problem or culture gap here.
Ven. Bhikkhu Pesala...The reason is because i felt it was wrong to talk to a Monk about topic like me getting married.

Re: Nikayas

Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 11:37 am
by waterchan
indian_buddhist, don't listen to those other namby-pamby Buddhists. REAL Buddhists begin their studies with the Abhidhamma Pitaka and THEN go back to the suttas so that they can explain them to the lesser Buddhists.

Just kidding. Just kidding.

SN is the only Nikaya that's organized by topic, so you can start with that if you like structure. The other nikayas are completely unstructured. And loosen up, man. You're too tense! You're not in a monastery. And you can talk with Buddhist monks about pretty much anything.

Re: Nikayas

Posted: Fri May 02, 2014 5:34 pm
by ArkA
waterchan wrote:indian_buddhist, don't listen to those other namby-pamby Buddhists. REAL Buddhists begin their studies with the Abhidhamma Pitaka and THEN go back to the suttas so that they can explain them to the lesser Buddhists.

Just kidding. Just kidding.

SN is the only Nikaya that's organized by topic, so you can start with that if you like structure. The other nikayas are completely unstructured. And loosen up, man. You're too tense! You're not in a monastery. And you can talk with Buddhist monks about pretty much anything.
No, no. REAL Buddhists start with sub-sub-sub commentaries, then sub-sub, then sub, then only Abhidhamma Pitaka. Becasue Buddhaghosa knew better.

Just kidding.

I too agree with waterchan, Samyutta Nikaya considered by scholars as the most authentic and overall, including Master Yin Shun.