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• [18 March 1998] Five suttas from the Samyutta Nikaya:
  • Rahogata Sutta (SN 36.11) — Alone. The Buddha explains how the practice of jhana leads to progressive stages of cessation and stillness. Only when the defilements are finally extinguished, however, is true peace and stillness achieved.
  • Isidatta Sutta (SN 41.3) — About Isidatta. What is the origin of self-view? The touching story of Ven. Isidatta, a wise young forest monk, who declines his elders' invitation to become a Dhamma teacher, and instead quietly slips off into the forest and disappears.
  • Gilana Sutta (SN 41.10) — Sick (Citta the Householder's Last Hours). Citta, on his deathbed, delivers an inspiring teaching on generosity to his friends, his family, and a gathering of devas.
  • Talaputa Sutta (SN 42.2) — Talaputa the Actor. Comedians and actors take heed: making people laugh may not always be a particularly commendable occupation, as Talaputa learns.
  • Yodhajiva Sutta (SN 42.3) — To Yodhajiva (The Warrior). The Buddha cautions a soldier against expecting a favorable rebirth because of his battlefield heroics.
• [16 March 1998] Three Suttas from the Majjhima Nikaya:
  • Sammaditthi Sutta (MN 9) — The Discourse on Right View [Ñanamoli Thera & Bhikkhu Bodhi, trans.]. A long and important discourse by Ven. Sariputta, with separate sections on the wholesome and the unwholesome, nutriment, the Four Noble Truths, the twelve factors of dependent origination, and the taints.
  • Cula-Malunkyovada Sutta (MN 63) — The Shorter Instructions to Malunkya. Ven. Malunkyaputta threatens to disrobe unless the Buddha answers all his speculative metaphysical questions. Using the famous simile of a man shot by a poison arrow, the Buddha reminds him that some questions are simply not worth asking.
  • Piyajatika Sutta (MN 87) — From One Who Is Dear. King Pasenadi of Kosala figures prominently in many discourses as a devout follower of the Buddha. In this discourse we learn how — thanks to Queen Mallika's astuteness — the king first became favorably disposed toward the Buddha.
• [12 Mar 1998] Another batch from the Samyutta Nikaya... Why abandon desire?
  • Cakkhu Sutta (SN 27.1) — The Eye. Why desire connected with the six senses is worth abandoning.
  • Rupa Sutta (SN 27.2) — Forms. Why desire connected with the objects of the six senses is worth abandoning.
  • Viññana Sutta (SN 27.3) — Consciousness. Why desire connected with consciousness is worth abandoning.
  • Phassa Sutta (SN 27.4) — Contact. Why desire connected with contact is worth abandoning.
  • Vedana Sutta (SN 27.5) — Feeling. Why desire connected with feelings is worth abandoning.
  • Sañña Sutta (SN 27.6) — Perception. Why desire connected with perceptions is worth abandoning.
  • Cetana Sutta (SN 27.7) — Intention. Why desire connected with intentions is worth abandoning.
  • Tanha Sutta (SN 27.8) — Craving. Why desire connected with craving for sense-objects is worth abandoning.
  • Dhatu Sutta (SN 27.9) — Properties. Why desire connected with the six dhatu (elements) is worth abandoning.
  • Khandha Sutta (SN 27.10) — Aggregates. Why desire connected with the five khanda (aggregates) is worth abandoning.
  Where can true solitude be found?
  • Migajala Sutta (SN 35.63) — To Migajala. Why is true solitude so hard to find? The Buddha explains why, no matter where you go, some of your most annoying companions always seem to be tagging along.
  This precious human birth...
  • Chiggala Sutta (SN 56.48) — The Hole. The Buddha's famous simile of the blind sea-turtle, illustrating the precious rarity of this human birth.
• [3 Mar 1998] Another handful from the Samyutta Nikaya:
  • Loka Sutta (SN 12.44) — The World. How the world arises and falls according to the law of dependent co-arising.
  • Upadana Sutta (SN 12.52) — Clinging. The Buddha uses a marvellous fire simile to describe the nature of clinging.
  • Jinna Sutta (SN 16.5) — Old. Ven. Maha Kassapa explains why he continues meditating even though he has long since attained arahantship.
  • Pilahaka Sutta (SN 17.5) — The Dung Beetle.
    Sigala Sutta (SN 17.8) — The Jackal. Two warnings for those who find themselves delighting in fame and fortune.
• [1 Mar 1998] A little reorganization... Now that the listings of meditation groups and Dhamma centers have moved to DharmaNet , I've reorganized the website a little bit:
  • The "subtitle" of this site is now "Readings in Theravada Buddhism," in keeping with Access to Insight's renewed focus on serving as a library of Theravada texts, especially translations from the Pali canon.
  • The "Gateways to Practice" and "Gateways to Study" pages have been consolidated into one page: "Other Theravada Sources." This is where you can learn where to find meditation practice groups, books, Pali language materials, etc., primarily from other websites.
  If you come across any bad links or other errors as a result of this reorganization, please let me know.