The long discourses of the Buddha: a translation of the Digha Nikaya

The Digha Nikaya, or "Long Discourses" of the Buddha, is the first of the five Nikayas (collections) of the Sutta Pitaka. This Nikaya consists of 34 discourses by the Buddha and his chief disciples and deals with a variety of topics such as the rewards of monastic life, early Buddhist philosophy and guidance to laypersons. It also contains some of the most famous discourses such as 'The last days of the Buddha' or the 'Four foundations of mindfulness'.

Table of Contents
Contents 7
Foreword 11
Preface 13
Technical Notes 15
Introduction 19
THE LIFE OF THE BUDDHA 19
'Ascetics and Brahmins' 21
MAIN POINTS OF THE TEACHING 24
THE PALI CANON 46
THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE PALI CANON 50
A Summary of the Thirty-Four Suttas 55
Division One: The Moralities 65
1 Brahmajāla Sutta: The Supreme Net What the Teaching Is Not 67
2 Sāmaññaphala Sutta: The Fruits of the Homeless Life 91
3 Ambaṭṭha Sutta: About Ambaṭṭha Pride Humbled 111
4 Soṇadaṇḍa Sutta: About Soṇadaṇḍa The Qualities of a True Brahmin 125
5 Kūṭadanta Sutta: About Kūṭadanta A Bloodless Sacrifice 133
6 Mahāli Sutta: About Mahāli Heavenly Sights, Soul and Body 143
7 Jāliya Sutta: About Jāliya 149
8 Mahāsīhanāda Sutt a: The Great Lion's Roar 151
9 Poṭṭhapāda Sutta: About Poṭṭhapāda States of Consciousness 159
10 Subha Sutta: About Subha Morality, Concentration, Wisdom 171
11 Kevaddha Sutta: About Kevaddha What Brahma Didn't Know 175
12 Lohicca Sutta: About Lohicca Good and Bad Teachers 181
13 Tevijja Sutta: The Threefold Knowledge The Way to Brahma 187
DIVISION TWO: THE GREAT DIVISION 197
14 Mahāpadāna Sutta: The Great Discourse on the Lineage 199
15 Mahānidāna Sutta: The Great Discourse on Origination 223
16 Mahāparinibbāna Sutta: The Great Passing The Buddha's Last Days 231
17 Mahāsudassana Sutta: The Great Splendour A King's Renunciation 279
18 Janavasabha Sutta: About Janavasabha Brahmā Addresses the Gods 291
19 Mahāgovinda Sutta: The Great Steward A Past Life of Gotama 301
20 Mahāsamaya Sutt a: The Mighty Gathering Devas Come to See the Buddha 315
21 Sakkapañha Sutt a: Sakka' s Questions A God Consults the Buddha 321
22 Mahāsatipaṭṭhāna Sutta: The Greater Discourse on the Foundations of Mindf~lness 335
23 Pāyāsi Sutta: Acbout Pāyāsi Debate with a Sceptic 351
DIVISION THREE: THE PATIKA DIVISION I 369
24 Pāṭika Sutta: About Pāṭikaputta The Charlatan 371
25 Udumbarika-Sīhanāda Sutta: The Great Lion's Roar to the Udurhbarikans 385
26 Cakkavatti-Sīhanāda Sutta: The Lion's Roar on the Turning of the Wheel 395
27 Aggañña Sutta: On Knowledge of Beginnings 407
28 Sampasādanīya Sutta: Serene Faith 417
29 Pāsādika Sutta: The Delightful Discourse 427
30 Lakkhaṇa Sutta: The Marks of a Great Man 441
31 Sigālaka Sutta: To Sigālaka Advice to Lay People 461
32 Āṭānāṭiya Sutta: The Āṭānāṭiya Protective Verses 471
33 Sangīti Sutta: The Chanting Together 479
34 DasuttaraSutta: Expanding Decades 511
Bibliography 525
List of Abbreviations 531
Notes 533
Index 627