Canonical Collections For Sutta Reading Practice
This is a quick guide to the books of the Sutta Pitaka as it relates to daily sutta reading practice.
Choosing a Text
Book Review—In the Buddha’s Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon by Bhikkhu Bodhi
In the Buddha’s Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon by Bhikkhu Bodhi, published by Wisdom Publications, 2005. Why you should read it: It covers all the important Buddhist concepts You can see exactly what the Buddha taught, not other people’s ideas of what he taught These scriptures are important to all major … Read more
Selections from In the Buddha’s Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon
In the Buddha’s Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon has long been the best way to begin reading the suttas. You can read a short book review here that explains why. This e-book contains the main introduction as well as the introduction to each of the ten chapters. While no substitute for … Read more
Overview of Translators of Pali Buddhist Scriptures
We are very fortunate to be living in a time when the entire Sutta Pitaka has been translated into clear modern English. As a beginner, one should not be overly hung up on choosing the “best” translation. All of the translators on this page have created texts that you can read with confidence. They are … Read more
The Short Readings: Khuddakapatha as a Daily Practice
The smallest collection of suttas in the Pail canon is the Khuddhakapāṭha, “The Short Readings.” It is the first book of the Khuddaka Nikaya. Although it is small, it contains some very important suttas. Three of the most famous suttas—Mangala, Ratana, and Karaniyametta—are found here. These three suttas are commonly recited in the morning in … Read more
Life of the Buddha According to the Pali Canon – Free PDF
The complete PDF version of Bhikkhu Nanamoli’s anthology Life of the Buddha According to the Pali Canon is now available as a free download from Pariyatti.org. This anthology pieces together the biographical information about the Buddha into a continuous narrative from throughout the Pali canon. Several features make this book uniquely valuable: Many books about … Read more
Benefits of Having a Backup Text for Sutta Reading Practice
Be prepared for times when reading your regular book of suttas is difficult.
Dhammapada As a Daily Practice
The Dhammapada is an excellent text for a daily sutta practice. The verses are packed with material for contemplation as well as implementation. The reading can usually be done in as little as five minutes a day plus as much reflection time as you are able to give. If you do not have an established … Read more
Building a Sutta Reading Library
Because there is no single volume that contains all of the ancient Pali scriptures, it can be a little confusing trying to complete your collection. It can also be difficult to decide which translations are best and whether or not the book is a complete translation or just an anthology. Below is a link to … Read more
Sutta Reading Practice Life List
A sutta reading practice life list is a record of all the complete sutta collections you have read, either canonical collections or anthologies, including the dates of each cycle. There are several benefits of doing this. It acts as an incentive to read a book completely. It only goes on the list if you read … Read more