Study Group Schedule

Where we gather to focus on a single discourse or thematic collection from the Sutta Piṭaka (new selection every two weeks)
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retrofuturist
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Study Group Schedule

Post by retrofuturist »

Majjhima Nikaya Study Group

Week commencing...

11 Feb 2009 - 4. Faith, practice, and attainment - MN 95. Cankī Sutta: With Cankī

18 Feb 2009 - 5. Four ways of life - MN 46. Mahādhammasamādāna Sutta: The Greater Discourse on Ways of Undertaking Things

25 Feb 2009 - 6. Karma and its results - Part 1 - MN 57. Kukkuravatika Sutta: The Dog-Duty Ascetic

4 Mar 2009 - 7. Karma and its results - Part 2 - MN 135. Cūḷakammavibhanga Sutta: The Shorter Exposition of Action

11 Mar 2009 - 8. The path to a higher rebirth - MN 41. Sāleyyaka Sutta: The Brahmins of Sālā

18 Mar 2009 - 9. Right speech and patience - Part 1 - MN 61. Ambalaṭṭhikārāhulovāda Sutta: Advice to Rāhula at Ambalaṭṭhikā

25 Mar 2009 - 10. Right speech and patience - Part 2 - MN 21. Kakacūpama Sutta: The Simile of the Saw

More topics to be announced shortly. Sequencing modelled on Bhikkhu Bodhi's course "Exploring the Word of the Buddha" (see attached PDF file)
MN_syllabus.pdf
SYLLABUS FOR A SYSTEMATIC STUDY OF THE MAJJHIMA NIKĀYA
(83.9 KiB) Downloaded 1100 times
Metta,
Retro. :)
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
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mikenz66
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Re: Study schedule

Post by mikenz66 »

Hi Retro,

Not sure if you want comments on this thread, so feel free to delete this (or maybe we need a "comments" thread?) but I think you've made an excellent choice to just pick out some of the Suttas that Bhikkhu Bodhi covers, otherwise it might move a little slowly.

Thanks for your efforts!

Metta
Mike
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Cittasanto
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Re: Study schedule

Post by Cittasanto »

Here are the links I talked about in the other thread!

http://www.bodhimonastery.net/bm/about- ... ikaya.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.liberationpark.org/study/syllabus.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and their is also Ashoka university
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.
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jcsuperstar
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Re: Study schedule

Post by jcsuperstar »

so that syllabus is finished in as much as i could find the translations on the internets.

what do you guys think we should do next?
สัพเพ สัตตา สุขีตา โหนตุ

the mountain may be heavy in and of itself, but if you're not trying to carry it it's not heavy to you- Ajaan Suwat
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retrofuturist
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Re: Study schedule

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings JC,

I'd like the Nibbana Sermons by Venerable Nanananda but I understand if that might not a choice of interest to the masses... and there are quite a few of them.

So unless other people jump up and say they're keen, feel free to let this idea slip.

Metta,
Retro. :)
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
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mikenz66
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Re: Study schedule

Post by mikenz66 »

How about looking at the Ratana, Mahāmaṅgala, and Mettā Suttas, from the Sutta Nipata? These have a very different "feel" from the Majjhima Nikaya.
There are a number of translations to compare here:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

As Bhikkhu Bodhi says in his introduction to his talks here:
http://www.bodhimonastery.net/courses/Sn/Sn_course.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The first three suttas studied, the Ratana, Mahāmaṅgala, and Mettā Suttas, are among the most popular texts in Theravada Buddhism. They provide the backbone of understanding, practice, and attitude in the Theravada Buddhist world and are often taught to lay people so that they will grow up imbibing the values and ideals of Buddhism. They also serve as paritta suttas (“Protective Discourses”), recited to provide blessings and protection in times of difficulty and danger.
Metta
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Re: Study schedule

Post by BlackBird »

BlackBird wrote:Could we have a look at some of the Sutta Nipata at some stage? I have heard it referred to as a bit of a hidden gold-mine, and my wanderings through it thus far have been fruitful.

:anjali:
Jack


:anjali:
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'The Blessed One is the Teacher, I am a disciple. He is the one who knows, not I." - MN. 70 Kitagiri Sutta

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rowyourboat
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Re: Study schedule

Post by rowyourboat »

It might be also useful to look at all the sutras on one topic
With Metta

Karuna
Mudita
& Upekkha
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jcsuperstar
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Re: Study schedule

Post by jcsuperstar »

so i think i'm gonna go with the sutta nipata, since it looks like its all there on A2I, and since we talked about this before...
happy study! jc
สัพเพ สัตตา สุขีตา โหนตุ

the mountain may be heavy in and of itself, but if you're not trying to carry it it's not heavy to you- Ajaan Suwat
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retrofuturist
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Re: Study schedule

Post by retrofuturist »

Good choice JC... thanks for your efforts.

:reading:

Metta,
Retro. :)
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
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the next collection

Post by jcsuperstar »

i think after the Sutta Nipata it would be best to move on to the Itivuttaka as not only is it available online but they are short suttas. After that is done we can come up with something else. suggestions are most welcome

jc
สัพเพ สัตตา สุขีตา โหนตุ

the mountain may be heavy in and of itself, but if you're not trying to carry it it's not heavy to you- Ajaan Suwat
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retrofuturist
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Re: the next collection

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings endorser of the Itivuttaka,

I concur.

:reading:

Thanks for your efforts.

Metta,
Retro. :)
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
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Khalil Bodhi
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Re: the next collection

Post by Khalil Bodhi »

Hi JC,

I'd be interested in participating. Are you just going to post a reading for discussion on a weekly basis? Let me know if there are any details I'm missing. Metta.
To avoid all evil, to cultivate good, and to cleanse one's mind — this is the teaching of the Buddhas.
-Dhp. 183

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Continuing the Study Group

Post by mikenz66 »

I've agreed to take over the Study Group for the time being. JC had taken us through quite a lot of the Sutta Nipata, but I've noticed that discussion has trailed off a little on that, so my plan is to alternate the rest of the Sutta Nipata Suttas with a selection of other Suttas. In particular, I will try to post some suttas for which there are alternative translations available.

First up is: MN 131 Bhaddekaratta Sutta: The Discourse on the Ideal Lover of Solitude.
I have posted the translation by Bhikkhu Ñanananda, but Thanissaro Bhikkhu's translation is also available. Also note that the translation of the Majjhima Nikaya by Bhikkhus Ñanamoli and Bohdi available at: http://www.palicanon.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; but you have to register to read them.

I think that JC would have appreciated the translated title that Bhikkhu Ñanananda has chosen.

Metta
Mike
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mikenz66
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A selection from the Samyutta Nikaya

Post by mikenz66 »

A selection from the Samyutta Nikaya.

Over the next few months I will post some Suttas from the Samyutta
Nikaya (SN). I intend to use mainly Suttas that appear in the
collections by Bhikkhu Ñanananda http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... el183.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; John D. Ireland http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... el107.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; or M.O'C. Walshe http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... el318.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; as well as in the main collection on Access to Insight
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; so that we have a variety of translations to compare, including, of course, Bhikkhu Bodhi's translation: http://www.wisdompubs.org/Pages/c_teachings.lasso" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; which is not available (legally) on line, but which I highly recommend. I will post some summaries of Bhikkhu Bodhi's notes as we go along.

I intend to use the ordering suggested by Bhikkhu Bodhi:
Bhikkhu Bodhi wrote: I suggest you might take [the Samyutta Nikaya] in
what seems to me to be the original order, the most reasonable order,
preserved better in the Sarvastivada school (in Chinese
translation). In the Pali tradition, it seems, the books of the
Samyutta were re-arranged and as a result one loses sight of the
underlying groundplan. As I see it from the Chinese Samyukta Agama,
this collection attempted, in broad terms, to mirror the pattern of
the four noble truths. One should begin with Part III (of the Pali),
22-the Khandha-samyutta, followed by Part IV, 35-the
Salayatana-samyutta and 36-Vedana-samyutta. These were to represent
the noble truth of suffering.

Then take Part II, the Nidana-samyutta [12]. This represents the noble
truths of the origin and cessation of suffering. You can also look at
Part IV-43 and 44-which again relate to the truth of cessation.

Then take Part V [45-56], just about all the chapters are
important. This is called in Pali the Mahavagga, the large
compilation, but in the Chinese Samyukta Agama it was called
Margavagga, the compilation on the path; for it represents the fourth
truth, the way to the cessation of suffering.

Thereafter you can take any of the minor chapters that catch your
interest. Part I, the collection with verses, can be taken last. In
the Samyukta Agama it was in fact put at the end, as a kind of
supplement to the original Samyutta collection, but for some reason
the early elders of the Theravada tradition moved it to the beginning,
where it has effectively discouraged many brave souls who were intent
on reading the Samyutta from proceeding further.
PS: I will alternate Suttas from the final chapter of the Sutta Nipata with the Samyutta Nikaya Suttas until we get the Sutta Nipata finished.

Edit: There is a discussion with Bhikkhu Bodhi on the Samyutta Nikaya here:
http://dharmaseed.org/teacher/33/?searc ... tta+nikaya
where he discusses this ordering.

Mike
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