What is your favourite Nikāya?

A discussion on all aspects of Theravāda Buddhism

What is your favourite Nikāya?

Dīgha Nikāya
1
5%
Majjhima Nikāya
7
32%
Saṃyutta Nikāya
8
36%
Aṅguttara Nikāya
5
23%
Khuddaka Nikāya
1
5%
 
Total votes: 22

Nikaya35
Posts: 103
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What's your favorite nikaya and why ?

Post by Nikaya35 »

I got all the wisdom excellent nikayas translations . My favorite nikaya is the majjhima nikaya . The content and the length of the sutras is perfect in my opinion . The most balanced book to study the dharma . I will write my favorite nikayas in order and the rating. 1. The majjhima nikaya ( 5 stars ) 2 . The Anguttara nikaya ( 5 stars ) I like this nikaya very much too . Definitely the best nikaya for nonmonastic people . 3 . The samyutta nikaya ( 5 stars ) this nikaya have all the core teachings discussed in detail . Very important . 4 . Digha nikaya ( 3 stars ) . This nikaya is meh to me . I don't like it very much . The sutras are too long and are not very interesting in my opinion .
Last edited by Nikaya35 on Sat Dec 29, 2012 1:36 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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LonesomeYogurt
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Re: What's your favorite nikaya and why ?

Post by LonesomeYogurt »

I agree that the Majjhima is by far the most balanced Nikaya in terms of length and content, but I have a soft spot for the Samyutta myself. The Anguttara's structure has always been hard for me to get a handle on, but I've found some great stuff in it. Otherwise, I'm not a huge fan of the Digha either; it seems to be the most proselytizing or otherwise "missionary-style" of all the Nikayas.

Of course, as the old Zen story goes, there is no Nikaya that is not the best :smile:
Gain and loss, status and disgrace,
censure and praise, pleasure and pain:
these conditions among human beings are inconstant,
impermanent, subject to change.

Knowing this, the wise person, mindful,
ponders these changing conditions.
Desirable things don’t charm the mind,
undesirable ones bring no resistance.

His welcoming and rebelling are scattered,
gone to their end,
do not exist.
- Lokavipatti Sutta

Stuff I write about things.
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DNS
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Re: What is your favourite Nikāya?

Post by DNS »

maitreya31 wrote:
The Anguttara nikaya ( 5 stars ) I like this nikaya very much too . Definitely the best nikaya for nonmonastic people .
:thumbsup:

I merged your topic with the already existing one. Be sure to vote in the poll here too. What is your opinion/rating of the Khuddaka Nikaya?
Nikaya35
Posts: 103
Joined: Wed Nov 17, 2010 4:36 am

Re: What is your favourite Nikāya?

Post by Nikaya35 »

David N. Snyder wrote:
maitreya31 wrote:
The Anguttara nikaya ( 5 stars ) I like this nikaya very much too . Definitely the best nikaya for nonmonastic people .
:thumbsup:

I merged your topic with the already existing one. Be sure to vote in the poll here too. What is your opinion/rating of the Khuddaka Nikaya?
I never read this nikaya . It's very good ? Where I can buy the book ?
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Cittasanto
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Re: What is your favourite Nikāya?

Post by Cittasanto »

maitreya31 wrote:
David N. Snyder wrote:
maitreya31 wrote:
The Anguttara nikaya ( 5 stars ) I like this nikaya very much too . Definitely the best nikaya for nonmonastic people .
:thumbsup:

I merged your topic with the already existing one. Be sure to vote in the poll here too. What is your opinion/rating of the Khuddaka Nikaya?
I never read this nikaya . It's very good ? Where I can buy the book ?
It has up to 18 Books more than being one collection like the other Nikaya. It includes the Thera/Therigatha, Jataka, Sutta Nipata, Itivutaka, Udana and Dhammapada to name a few.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Blog, Suttas, Aj Chah, Facebook.

He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them.
But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion …
...
He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them … he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form.
John Stuart Mill
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mettafuture
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Re: What is your favourite Nikāya?

Post by mettafuture »

David N. Snyder wrote:Since they are all good, perhaps another way to word it might be: "If you were stranded on a desert island, but could only have one Nikaya with you to read and study, which one would it be?"
In that case, I'd have to pick the Majjhima Nikaya. It has most of the suttas I refer to regularly for practice and contemplation: the Sabbasava Sutta (MN 2), the Sammaditthi Sutta (MN 9), and the Satipatthana Sutta (MN 10) just to name a few. But there are some great teachings in the other nikayas as well. I especially appreciate the Sigalovada Sutta (DN 31) for lay instructions, and the Maha-parinibbana Sutta (DN 16) is very moving and inspiring.
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mettafuture
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Re: What is your favourite Nikāya?

Post by mettafuture »

David N. Snyder wrote:Anguttara Nikaya rules!! :tongue:
I'm really curious. How does it rule? What distinguishes it from the other nikayas? I'm thinking about buying a hardcopy.
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DNS
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Re: What is your favourite Nikāya?

Post by DNS »

I believe it has more suttas than any other Nikaya, if I am not mistaken.
It has more suttas for the layperson than any other Nikaya.
It is full of lists which summarize the teachings.
The core teachings are all in the Anguttara Nikaya including 4 Noble Truths, 8-fold path, Brahma Viharas; the famous Kalama Sutta and 6 qualities of the Dhamma.
http://www.dhammawiki.com/index.php?tit ... ara_Nikaya
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mettafuture
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Re: What is your favourite Nikāya?

Post by mettafuture »

David N. Snyder wrote:I believe it has more suttas than any other Nikaya, if I am not mistaken.
It has more suttas for the layperson than any other Nikaya.
It is full of lists which summarize the teachings.
The core teachings are all in the Anguttara Nikaya including 4 Noble Truths, 8-fold path, Brahma Viharas; the famous Kalama Sutta and 6 qualities of the Dhamma.
http://www.dhammawiki.com/index.php?tit ... ara_Nikaya
You're right. The Anguttara Nikaya has 8,122 suttas, more than any other nikaya, 161 of which directly or indirectly address lay people.

Thank you.
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