An Anthology of Discourses for Lay Followers

[mettafuture]

I’m compiling an anthology of discourses for lay followers. My one rule is that the text must be directed to a non-monastic. The teachings to monastics, as the Buddha himself has noted (Snp 2.14, SN 55.7), tend to be incompatible with people who have worldly obligations.

I plan on opening the anthology with the Metta Sutta, which, I feel, encapsulates the essence of the teachings in a simple and accessible way. Next will be the Kālāma Sutta, which illustrates what distinguishes Buddhism from other spiritual traditions. Then the following texts will progressively cover virtue, livelihood, traditional lay practice, and impermanence.

Your feedback, or suggestions on texts I should include or exclude, would be appreciated. The descriptions below are mostly from SuttaCentral.

My selection so far, in order:

Metta Sutta (Snp 1.8/than)
Mettā is one of the four "divine abodes" (Pali: brahmavihāra) recommended for cultivating interpersonal harmony and meditative concentration. (wikipedia)

Kālāma Sutta (AN 3.65/than)
How to navigate among different spiritual opinions.

Jīvaka Sutta (AN 8.26/than)
Questioned by Jīvaka Komārabhacca, the Buddha explains what makes someone a Buddhist lay follower, a virtuous lay follower, and a lay follower practicing for the welfare of all.

Dīghajāṇu Sutta (AN 8.54/than)
Dīghajāṇu of the Koliyans asks the Buddha to teach in a way suitable for lay people who enjoy life. The Buddha teaches four practical ways to ensure success in this life, and another four ways to ensure success in the next.

Dhammika Sutta (Snp 2.14/than)
The Buddha instructs a lay disciple named Dhammika on rules for monks and on the "layman's rule[s] of conduct" (gahatthavatta). (wikipedia)

Visākhā Sutta (AN 8.43)
The Buddha teaches the wealthy laywoman Visākhā that when the sabbath is observed by following the eight precepts, one lives for that day like the perfected ones.

Sāleyyaka Sutta (MN 41/than)
The Buddha explains to a group of brahmins the conduct leading to rebirth in higher or lower states, including detailed explanations of the ten core practices which lay people should undertake, and which also form the basis for liberation.

Veḷudvāreyya Sutta (SN 55.7)
The brahmin householders of Bamboo Gate ask the Buddha how to live well in the home. The Buddha teaches them seven principles they can apply to themselves, which are practical applications of the Golden Rule. Someone with these seven principles and the four factors of stream-entry is a stream-enterer.

Mahānāma Sutta (AN 11.12/than)
Mahānāma the Sakyan sees that the monks are preparing robes after the rains season. Knowing that the Buddha will soon depart, he asks how they are to live with their busy lives.

Upajjhaṭṭhana Sutta (AN 5.57/than)
Topics that are worthy regularly reflecting on, whether as a lay person or renunciant.

Anāthapiṇḍikovāda Sutta (MN 143/than)
As the great lay disciple Anāthapiṇḍika lies dying, Venerable Sāriputta visits him and gives a powerful teaching on non-attachment.

[Nicolas]

I find Bhikkhu Bodhi's anthology of suttas, The Buddha's Teachings on Social and Communal Harmony, to be an excellent anthology for laypeople (even though a lot of the suttas are addressed to monastics).

I have the project of creating a topic with its table of contents and links to the suttas referenced, in a way similar to what was done here with his other anthology, In the Buddha's Words.

[Srilankaputra]

One of my favourites, Nakulapita sutta.

https://suttacentral.net/sn22.1/en/bodhi

[bodom]

I compiled this list here a few years ago:

Suttas for the Householder
viewtopic.php?t=259


DN 31: Sigalovada Sutta — To Sigala/The Layperson's Code of Discipline
https://suttacentral.net/en/dn31

MN 14: Cula-dukkhakkhandha Sutta — The Lesser Mass of Stress
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html

MN 41: Saleyyaka Sutta — The Brahmans of Sala
https://suttacentral.net/en/mn41

MN 52: Atthakanagara Sutta — To the Man from Atthakanagara
https://suttacentral.net/en/mn52

MN 53: Sekha-patipada Sutta — The Practice for One in Training
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html

MN 54: Potaliya Sutta — To Potaliya
https://suttacentral.net/en/mn54

MN 56. Upāli, the Householder
https://suttacentral.net/en/mn56

MN 57: Kukkuravatika Sutta — The Dog-duty Ascetic
https://suttacentral.net/en/mn57

MN 58: Abhaya Sutta — To Prince Abhaya (On Right Speech)
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html

MN 59: Bahuvedaniya Sutta — Many Things to be Experienced/The Many Kinds of Feeling
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .nypo.html

MN 60: Apannaka Sutta — A Safe Bet
https://suttacentral.net/en/mn60

MN 97: Dhanañjani Sutta — To Dhanañjani
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html

MN 99: To the Brahmin Subha
http://awake.kiev.ua/dhamma/tipitaka/2S ... ha-e1.html

MN 143: Anathapindikovada Sutta — Instructions to Anathapindika
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html

SN 3.19: Aputtaka Sutta — Heirless (1)
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html

SN 3.20: Aputtaka Sutta — Heirless (2)
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html

SN 22.1: Nakulapita Sutta — To Nakulapita
https://suttacentral.net/en/sn22.1

SN 22.3: Haliddakani Sutta — To Haliddakani
https://suttacentral.net/en/sn22.3

SN 22.80: Pindolya Sutta — Almsgoers
https://suttacentral.net/en/sn22.80

SN 41.3: Isidatta Sutta — About Isidatta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html

SN 41.4: Mahaka Sutta — About Mahaka
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html

SN 41.6: Kamabhu Sutta — With Kamabhu (On the Cessation of Perception & Feeling)
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html

SN 41.7: Godatta Sutta — To Godatta (On Awareness-release)
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html

SN 41.10: Gilana Sutta — Sick (Citta the Householder's Last Hours)
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html

SN 47.29: Sirivaddha
https://suttacentral.net/en/sn47.29

SN 47.30: Manadinna
https://suttacentral.net/en/sn47.30

SN 55.30: Licchavi Sutta — To the Licchavi
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html

107. [Discourse to a Householder
https://suttacentral.net/en/sa107

AN 3.65: Kalama Sutta — To the Kalamas/The Buddha's Charter of Free Inquiry
https://suttacentral.net/en/an3.65

AN 3.66: Salha Sutta — To Salha
https://suttacentral.net/en/an3.66

AN 3.70: Muluposatha Sutta — The Roots of the Uposatha
https://suttacentral.net/en/an3.70

AN 3.92: Urgent
https://suttacentral.net/en/an3.92" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

AN 4.32: Sangaha Sutta — The Bonds of Fellowship
https://suttacentral.net/en/an4.32

AN 4.55: Samajivina Sutta — Living in Tune
https://suttacentral.net/en/an4.55

AN 4.60: The Layperson’s Proper Practice
https://suttacentral.net/en/an4.60" http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html

AN 4.62: Anana Sutta — Debtless
https://suttacentral.net/en/an4.62

AN 4.258: Kula Sutta — On Families
https://suttacentral.net/en/an4.258

AN 5.38: Saddha Sutta — Conviction
https://suttacentral.net/en/an5.38

AN 5.41: Adiya Sutta — Benefits to be Obtained (from Wealth)
https://suttacentral.net/en/an5.41

AN 5.43: Wished for
https://suttacentral.net/en/an5.43

AN 5.57: Upajjhatthana Sutta — Subjects for Contemplation
https://suttacentral.net/en/an5.57

AN 5.175: Candala Sutta — The Outcaste
https://suttacentral.net/en/an5.175

AN 5.176: Piti Sutta — Rapture
https://suttacentral.net/en/an5.176

AN 5.177: Vanijja Sutta — Business (Wrong Livelihood)
https://suttacentral.net/en/an5.177

AN 5.179: Gihi Sutta — The Householder
https://suttacentral.net/en/an5.179

AN 5.180: Gavesin Sutta — About Gavesin
https://suttacentral.net/en/an5.180

AN 6.16: Nakula’s Parents
https://suttacentral.net/en/an6.16" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

AN 8.25: Mahanama Sutta — Being a Lay Buddhist
https://suttacentral.net/en/an8.25

AN 8.26: Jivaka Sutta — To Jivaka (On Being a Lay Follower)
https://suttacentral.net/en/an8.26

AN 8.43: Visakhuposatha Sutta — The Discourse to Visakha on the Uposatha with the Eight Practices
https://suttacentral.net/en/an8.43

AN 8.54: Vyagghapajja (Dighajanu) Sutta — Conditions of Welfare/ To Dighajanu
https://suttacentral.net/en/an8.54

AN 10.92: Vera Sutta — Animosity
https://suttacentral.net/en/an10.92

AN 10.93: Ditthi Sutta — Views
https://suttacentral.net/en/an10.93

AN 10.94: Vajjiya Sutta — About Vajjiya
https://suttacentral.net/en/an10.94

AN 11.11: Mahanama Sutta — To Mahanama (1)
https://suttacentral.net/en/an11.11

AN 11.12: Mahanama Sutta — To Mahanama (2)
https://suttacentral.net/en/an11.12

Dhammapada — The Path of Dhamma
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... index.html"

Ud 8.8: Visakha Sutta — To Visakha
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html

Ud 2.5: Upasaka Sutta — The Lay Follower
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html"

Ud 2.6: Gabbhini Sutta — The Pregnant Woman
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html"

Ud 2.7: Ekaputta Sutta — The Only Son
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html"

Ud 2.9: Visakha Sutta — To Visakha
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html"

Ud 5.6: Sona Sutta — About Sona
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html"

Sn 1.2: Dhaniya Sutta — Dhaniya the Cattleman
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html"

Sn 2.1: Ratana Sutta — Treasures
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .piya.html"

Sn 2.4: Maha-mangala Sutta — Protection
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .nara.html"

Sn 2.14: Dhammika Sutta — Dhammika
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .irel.html"

[anthbrown84]

OP, thankyou for taking your time to create such a thing..wow.....

I look forward to reading these

Sadhu

Anthony

[budo]

Here's a really good research paper that analyzes all the lay followers in the suttas. http://budsas.net/sach/en136.pdf

[Sam Vara]

Here's a really good research paper that analyzes all the lay followers in the suttas. http://budsas.net/sach/en136.pdf

Saved for later. Many thanks Budo, that looks like a really excellent resource.

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

tlxxxviii's "aside" and subsequent responses have been split to a new topic...

Monks and Social Justice

Metta,
Paul.

[mettafuture]

I find Bhikkhu Bodhi's anthology of suttas, The Buddha's Teachings on Social and Communal Harmony, to be an excellent anthology for laypeople (even though a lot of the suttas are addressed to monastics).

I still need to read this. Thank you for the reminder.

I have the project of creating a topic with its table of contents and links to the suttas referenced, in a way similar to what was done here with his other anthology, In the Buddha's Words.

Looks good. I wish you success with your project.

OP, thankyou for taking your time to create such a thing..wow.....

You're welcome.

Here's a really good research paper that analyzes all the lay followers in the suttas. http://budsas.net/sach/en136.pdf

This is one of my favorite papers. Thank you for sharing it. It's also available on journals.equinoxpub.com. I've been tempted to make an anthology of every text listed in Kelly's paper, but that would take forever, and it would probably be too lengthy. There's a lot of overlap in the discourses, which I've been trying to avoid with my own "anthology."

[mettafuture]

I made some tweaks to the selection. I replaced AN 8.43 with AN 3.70, removed AN 5.57, and added DN 31 above MN 41. I'm also working on expanding all of the ellipses to make this collection self-contained and more readable. It's surprising how aggressively ellipses are sometimes used with these texts. I understand that they're necessary for sequential reading and single volume publications, but for practice, recitation, or study, I find that it's easier to comfortably engage with the teachings when I don't have to repeatedly think or refer back to what a previous text said.

Uposatha Sutta (AN 3.70/than)
The uposatha observance day of the cowherds, the Jains, and the Buddha.

Siṅgāla Sutta (DN 31/thera)
The Buddha encounters a young man who honors his dead parents by performing rituals. The Buddha recasts the meaningless rites in terms of virtuous conduct. This is the most detailed discourse on ethics for lay people.

Additional resources I'm thinking of including:
The Sutta Discovery Series by Piya Tan (vol. 15 is especially helpful)
Four Protective Meditations by Bhikkhu Bodhi