Systematic Sutta study

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Maitri
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Systematic Sutta study

Post by Maitri »

For the upcoming new year I would like to engage in a systematic study of the Pali suttas. Over the years I've read through the suttas and am currently making my way through the Udana, but it's always somewhat haphazard. Meaning that I've followed what interested me, what texts I had available etc... Especially since leaving the warm nest of the university I've not had as much mental energy or focus to read as intensely as before. I am tending to upend that this year!

This year I wanted to begin a much more organized and thorough way of studying the suttas. This could be perhaps chronologically, by topic, by speaker etc.. Does anyone have any guides, concordances, websites or methods to suggest? My intention is not only just to read them, but study them in proper context both historically and how they relate to practice. I am searching for resources that will help me to deepen my understanding of the Dhamma in a structured manner.

:namaste:
"Upon a heap of rubbish in the road-side ditch blooms a lotus, fragrant and pleasing.
Even so, on the rubbish heap of blinded mortals the disciple of the Supremely Enlightened One shines resplendent in wisdom." Dhammapada: Pupphavagga

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/
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katavedi
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Re: Systematic Sutta study

Post by katavedi »

Hello Maitri,

Bhikkhu Bodhi's anthology "In the Buddha's Words" is an excellent place to start. He creates a framework of the Dhamma, from initial steps to advanced insights, and provides representative suttas for each portion of the framework. His introductions to each section are quite informative.

Online, accesstoinsight.org has a page called "Befriending the Suttas" that advises how to begin sutta study.

Also, Leigh Brasington's website has some excellent sutta study guides.

I hope these are helpful resources for you.

Kind wishes,
katavedi
“But, Gotamī, when you know of certain things: ‘These things lead to dispassion, not to passion; to detachment, not to attachment; to diminution, not to accumulation; to having few wishes, not to having many wishes; to contentment, not to discontent; to seclusion, not to socializing; to the arousing of energy, not to indolence; to simple living, not to luxurious living’ – of such things you can be certain: ‘This is the Dhamma; this is the Discipline; this is the Master’s Teaching.’”
branded24
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Re: Systematic Sutta study

Post by branded24 »

Hi :)
* Bhikkhu Bodhi has an ongoing class in the Majjhima Nikaya (http://www.baus.org/en/?cat=9" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;). The videos are all on YouTube, if you want to go back and start from the beginning.
* At Noble Path (http://www.noblepath.org/audio.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) you will find audio files for his previous Majjhima course, and for his class based on 'In the Buddha's Words.'
* Lastly, Sati Center (http://www.sati.org/sati-center-classes/sutta-study/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) offers a self-paced, as well as a guided study, of the Majjhima - the guided class starts in January.

Hope this is helpful :)
dhammarelax
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Re: Systematic Sutta study

Post by dhammarelax »

Maitri wrote:For the upcoming new year I would like to engage in a systematic study of the Pali suttas. Over the years I've read through the suttas and am currently making my way through the Udana, but it's always somewhat haphazard. Meaning that I've followed what interested me, what texts I had available etc... Especially since leaving the warm nest of the university I've not had as much mental energy or focus to read as intensely as before. I am tending to upend that this year!

This year I wanted to begin a much more organized and thorough way of studying the suttas. This could be perhaps chronologically, by topic, by speaker etc.. Does anyone have any guides, concordances, websites or methods to suggest? My intention is not only just to read them, but study them in proper context both historically and how they relate to practice. I am searching for resources that will help me to deepen my understanding of the Dhamma in a structured manner.

:namaste:
Although is not what you are asking I suggest you pick up one single sutta eg MN 148, memorize it, recite it daily and thoroughly understand it before you pass to the next one, the teachings of the Buddha have an amazing power but they are not so easy to understand and to put in practice.

smile all the time
dhammarelax
Even if the flesh & blood in my body dry up, leaving just the skin, tendons, & bones, I will use all my human firmness, human persistence and human striving. There will be no relaxing my persistence until I am the first of my generation to attain full awakening in this lifetime. ed. AN 2.5
Maitri
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Re: Systematic Sutta study

Post by Maitri »

katavedi wrote:Hello Maitri,

Also, Leigh Brasington's website has some excellent sutta study guides.

Hello Katavedi,

The first are ones which I am familiar currently. I haven't encountered Leigh's resources, so thanks for the link! I will look into them as well.
"Upon a heap of rubbish in the road-side ditch blooms a lotus, fragrant and pleasing.
Even so, on the rubbish heap of blinded mortals the disciple of the Supremely Enlightened One shines resplendent in wisdom." Dhammapada: Pupphavagga

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/
Maitri
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Re: Systematic Sutta study

Post by Maitri »

branded24 wrote:Hi :)
* Bhikkhu Bodhi has an ongoing class in the Majjhima Nikaya (http://www.baus.org/en/?cat=9" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;). The videos are all on YouTube, if you want to go back and start from the beginning.
* At Noble Path (http://www.noblepath.org/audio.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) you will find audio files for his previous Majjhima course, and for his class based on 'In the Buddha's Words.'
* Lastly, Sati Center (http://www.sati.org/sati-center-classes/sutta-study/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) offers a self-paced, as well as a guided study, of the Majjhima - the guided class starts in January.
Thanks for the resources on the MN. I'm familiar with Bhikkhu Bodhi's class and have listened to a few lectures on occasion. I love the Sati center- it's a great resource. :namaste:
"Upon a heap of rubbish in the road-side ditch blooms a lotus, fragrant and pleasing.
Even so, on the rubbish heap of blinded mortals the disciple of the Supremely Enlightened One shines resplendent in wisdom." Dhammapada: Pupphavagga

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/
Maitri
Posts: 205
Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 1:43 am
Location: United States of America

Re: Systematic Sutta study

Post by Maitri »

Although is not what you are asking I suggest you pick up one single sutta eg MN 148, memorize it, recite it daily and thoroughly understand it before you pass to the next one, the teachings of the Buddha have an amazing power but they are not so easy to understand and to put in practice.
Hi Smile,

Yes, memorization of the teachings in invaluable. Imbuing our minds with the teachings of the Blessed One is truly important. I'm currently working on several Parittas I chant frequently. Maybe I can focus on larger Suttas after I retire from working :)

Wishing you a Happy New Year :buddha1:
"Upon a heap of rubbish in the road-side ditch blooms a lotus, fragrant and pleasing.
Even so, on the rubbish heap of blinded mortals the disciple of the Supremely Enlightened One shines resplendent in wisdom." Dhammapada: Pupphavagga

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/
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mikenz66
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Re: Systematic Sutta study

Post by mikenz66 »

branded24 wrote:Hi :)
* Bhikkhu Bodhi has an ongoing class in the Majjhima Nikaya (http://www.baus.org/en/?cat=9" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;). The videos are all on YouTube, if you want to go back and start from the beginning.
* At Noble Path (http://www.noblepath.org/audio.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) you will find audio files for his previous Majjhima course, and for his class based on 'In the Buddha's Words.'
* Lastly, Sati Center (http://www.sati.org/sati-center-classes/sutta-study/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) offers a self-paced, as well as a guided study, of the Majjhima - the guided class starts in January.

Hope this is helpful :)
There is also an earlier MN series by Bhikkhu Bodhi, and some discussion of the Sutta Nipata here:
http://bodhimonastery.org/religion/audios
I found it helpful to work though that earlier MN series, supplemented by other talks on the same suttas, such as those from BSWA:
http://www.dhammaloka.org.au/component/ ... study.html
Piya Tan's articles are also very helpful:
http://dharmafarer.org/wordpress/sutta- ... ima-nikaya

:anjali:
Mike
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Zom
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Re: Systematic Sutta study

Post by Zom »

For the upcoming new year I would like to engage in a systematic study of the Pali suttas.
There is no such thing as systematic study here. All suttas are like a big jigsaw puzzle. I'd recommend to start with Majjhima or Anguttara and go ahead reading from sutta N1 to ... whatever. If you don't understand something, just keep this in mind and go on. Somewhere in later text you'll find the explanation.
Maitri
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Re: Systematic Sutta study

Post by Maitri »

There is also an earlier MN series by Bhikkhu Bodhi, and some discussion of the Sutta Nipata here:
http://bodhimonastery.org/religion/audios
I found it helpful to work though that earlier MN series, supplemented by other talks on the same suttas, such as those from BSWA:
http://www.dhammaloka.org.au/component/ ... study.html
Piya Tan's articles are also very helpful:
http://dharmafarer.org/wordpress/sutta- ... ima-nikaya

Mike
Hi Mike,

Yes, thank you for reminding me about Dharmafarer- a great resource! One thing I realized about researching this is that are so many Theravadan resources, but they are scattered around. It's a challenge to keep track of them.

Currently I am on the Udana having started that last month once these are completed I will be starting the Itivuttaka.

All the suggestions are great and are helping me to put together a good number of resources for my readings. It just occurred to me that it's already the 2nd day of the new year, so I better get to it!

:namaste:
"Upon a heap of rubbish in the road-side ditch blooms a lotus, fragrant and pleasing.
Even so, on the rubbish heap of blinded mortals the disciple of the Supremely Enlightened One shines resplendent in wisdom." Dhammapada: Pupphavagga

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/
Maitri
Posts: 205
Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 1:43 am
Location: United States of America

Re: Systematic Sutta study

Post by Maitri »

Zom wrote:
For the upcoming new year I would like to engage in a systematic study of the Pali suttas.
There is no such thing as systematic study here. All suttas are like a big jigsaw puzzle. I'd recommend to start with Majjhima or Anguttara and go ahead reading from sutta N1 to ... whatever. If you don't understand something, just keep this in mind and go on. Somewhere in later text you'll find the explanation.
Yes, I know that there is no systematic sutta here at Dhammawheel that's why I was asking for others' resources in the first post.

I've decided that I will be working from smaller to larger texts at this point as I am already reading the Udana. Thanks for the sutta suggestions.
"Upon a heap of rubbish in the road-side ditch blooms a lotus, fragrant and pleasing.
Even so, on the rubbish heap of blinded mortals the disciple of the Supremely Enlightened One shines resplendent in wisdom." Dhammapada: Pupphavagga

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/
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