The Sutta Pitaka (suttapiṭaka; or Suttanta Pitaka; cf Sanskrit सूत्र पिटक Sūtra Piṭaka) is the first of the three divisions of the Tripitaka or Pali Canon, the Pali collection of Buddhist writings, the scriptures of Theravada Buddhism. The Sutta Pitaka contains more than 10,000 suttas (teachings) attributed to the Buddha or his close companions.
This is a compilation of the word of the Buddha in the department of the discourses, i.e. his sermons, lectures or explanations of dhamma that were adaptively given to suit particular individuals and occasions, along with compositions, narratives, and stories that were of early Buddhism. Printed in 25 volumes, the Suttantapiñaka is classified into five collections (known by their abbreviations as D ī, Ma, Saṁ, Aṁ, Khu) as follows
1. D ī : Dīgha Nikaya (dīghanikāya), the "long" discourses.
2. Ma : Majjhima Nikaya, the "middle-length" discourses.
3. Saṁ : Saṁyutta Nikaya (saṃyutta-), the "connected" discourses.
4. Aṁ : Aṁguttara Nikaya (aṅguttara-), the "numerical" discourses. 5. Khu : Khuddaka Nikaya, the "minor collection
2. Ma : Majjhima Nikaya, the "middle-length" discourses.
3. Saṁ : Saṁyutta Nikaya (saṃyutta-), the "connected" discourses.
4. Aṁ : Aṁguttara Nikaya (aṅguttara-), the "numerical" discourses. 5. Khu : Khuddaka Nikaya, the "minor collection
1. Digha Nikaya : This includes The Greater Discourse on the Foundations of Mindfulness, The Fruits of the Contemplative Life, and The Buddha's Last Days. There are 34 long suttas in this nikaya.
2. Majjhima Nikaya : This includes Shorter Exposition of Kamma, Mindfulness of Breathing, and Mindfulness of the Body. There are 152 medium-length suttas in this nikaya.
3. Saṁyutta Nikaya: There are, according to one reckoning, 2,889, but according to the commentary 7,762, shorter suttas in this Nikaya.
4. Aṁguttara Nikaya: These teachings are arranged numerically.
It includes, according to the commentary's reckoning, 9,565 short suttas grouped by number from ones to
elevens. According to Keown, "there is considerable disparity between the Pāli and the Sarvāstivādin versions,
with more than two-thirds of the sūtras found in one but not the other compilation, which suggests that much of
this portion of the Sūtra Piṭaka was not formed until a fairly late date.
5.Khuddaka Nikaya: This is a heterogeneous mix of sermons, doctrines, and poetry attributed to the Buddha
and his disciples. The contents vary somewhat between editions. The Thai edition includes 1-15 below, the
Sinhalese edition 1-17 and the Burmese edition 1-18.
1. Khuddakapatha 2. Dhammapada 3. Udana 4. Itivuttaka 5. Suttanipata
6. Vimanavatthu 7. Petavatthu 8. Theragatha 9. Therigatha 10. Jataka
11. Niddesa 12. Patisambhidamagga 13. Apadana 14. Buddhavamsa 15. Cariyapitaka
16. Nettipakarana or Netti 17. Petakopadesa 18. Milinda Panha
1. The Digha Nikaya (dīghanikāya; "Collection of Long Discourses")
Volume 9: Sīlakkhandhavagga. This volume contains 13 long discourses, starting with Brahmajālasutta. Several discourses deal with the attainment in morality, which is sometimes divided into Minor Morality (cullasīla), Middle Morality (majjhimasīla), and Major Morality (mahāsīla). Hence the collective name of the whole division: Sīlakkhandhavagga ‘the Division Concerning Morality’.
Volume 10: Mahāvagga. This volume contains 10 long discourses, mostly starting with the word mahā ‘great’, e.g. Mahāparinibbānasutta, Mahāsamayasutta, Mahāsatipaṭṭhānasutta, etc.
Volume 11: Pāṭikavagga (also known as Pāthikavagga). This volume covers 11 long discourses, starting with Pāṭikasutta. There are also well-known discourses such as Cakkavattisutta, Aggaññasutta, Saṅgīlakasutta and Saṅgītisutta.
Volume 10: Mahāvagga. This volume contains 10 long discourses, mostly starting with the word mahā ‘great’, e.g. Mahāparinibbānasutta, Mahāsamayasutta, Mahāsatipaṭṭhānasutta, etc.
Volume 11: Pāṭikavagga (also known as Pāthikavagga). This volume covers 11 long discourses, starting with Pāṭikasutta. There are also well-known discourses such as Cakkavattisutta, Aggaññasutta, Saṅgīlakasutta and Saṅgītisutta.
Volume 12: Mūlapaṇṇāsaka ‘the first batch of 50’. This volume covers the first 50 middle length discourses, some of whose names might sound familiar, e.g. Dhammadāyādasutta, Sammdāiṭṭhisutta, Satipahāṭṭnasutta, Rathavintīasutta, Vīmaṁsakasutta.
Volume 13: Majjhimapaṇṇāsaka ‘the middle batch of 50’. This Volume covers the next 50 middle length discourses. Among those discourses whose names might sound familiar are Sekhapaṭipadàsutta, Jīvakasutta, Upālivādasutta, Abhayarājakumrāasutta, Māgaṇḍiyasutta, Raṭṭhapālasutta, Bodhirājakumārasutta, Aïgulimālasutta, Dhammacetiyasutta, and Vāseṭṭhasutta.
Volume 14: Uparipaṇṇāsaka ‘the last batch of 50’. This volume covers the remaining 52 middle length discourses, their subject matters being multifarious. Among the discourses are, for example, Devadahasutta, Gopakamoggallānasutta, Sappurisasutta, Mahācattārisakasutta, Ānāpānasatisutta, Kāyagatāsatisutta, Bhaddekarattasutta, Cūḷakammavibhaṅgasutta, Puṇṇovādasutta, Saḷāyatanavibhaṅgasutta, and Indriyabhāvanāsutta.
3. Saṁyutta Nikaya The ‘Collection of Connected Discourses’
(Thiscollection of 7,762 discourses is classified into 56 groups (saṁyutta), arranged in a special order by subject matter. Each group deals with a specific doctrine or personality.)
Volume 15: Sagāthavagga. This volume is a collection of verses mostly uttered by the Buddha and in response to different personalities, e.g. deities, Màra the Evil One, nuns, brahmins, King of Kosala, etc. This section is classified mainly according to the individuals and places concerned into 11 saṁyuttas.
Volume 16: Nidānavagga. Half of this volume deals with causes and conditions, i.e. the law of the Dependent Origination. The rest deals with the elements, the penetration of Dhamma, the round of rebirths, material gain, etc. This section is classified into 10 saṁyuttas.
Volume 17: Khandhavāravagga. This volume deals with the various aspects of the five aggregates and miscellaneous subjects including concentration, together with some false views. This section is classified into 13 saṁyuttas.
Volume 18: Salāyatanavagga. Almost half of this volume deals with the six sense-bases in accordance with the Three Characteristics. The rest deals with the five precepts, ways of practice leading to the unconditioned, extremist views, etc. This section is classified into 10 saṁyuttas.
Volume 19: Mahāvāravagga. This volume covers the 37 virtues partaking of enlightenment, which are rearranged, starting with the Noble Eightfold Path (including other virtues prior to the Path) the seven enlightenment factors, the four bases of mindfulness, the five controlling faculties, the four right efforts, the five powers, the four paths of accomplishment, including other related topics, e.g. the five hindrances, the ten fetters, the Four Noble Truths, the absorptions, along with the attributes of Stream Entrants and the meritorious consequences of the fruition of Stream Entry. This section is
4. The Aṅguttaranikāya ‘Collection of Numerical Sayings’ (This collection of 9,557 discourses is classified into 11 divisions known as nipāta, which are arranged in progressive numerical order, starting from the groups of single items, followed by the groups of two and so on, to the groups of eleven.)
Volume 20: Eka-, Duka-, and Tikanipāta. This volume covers those topics of dhamma classified into groups of one (e.g. the prime object which when trained is apt for work, i.e. the mind; the inner prime virtue that is for great benefit, i.e. heedfulness; etc. including accounts of the Buddha’s foremost disciples), groups of two (e.g. 13 sets of two types of happiness, two types of fool, two types of wise man, two types of kind reception, two types of prosperity, etc.), and groups of three (e.g. the three parental statuses with respect to their children, three types of intoxication, the three supremacies, the Threefold Training, etc.).
Volume 21: Catukkanipāta. This volume covers those topics of dhamma classified into groups of four (e.g. the four noble dhammas, the Four Assemblies, the four efforts, the four biases, the four virtues wheeling one to prosperity, the four bases of social solidarity, etc.)
Volume 22: Pañcaka-, and Chakkanipāta. This volume covers those topics of dhamma classified into groups of five (e.g. the five powers, the five hindrances, the five ideas to be constantly reviewed, the five worriors), and groups of six (e.g. the six states of conciliation, the six excellent experiences, the six reverences, the six impossibilities,etc.)
Volume 23: Sattaka-, Aṭṭhaka- and Navakanipāta. This volume covers those topics of dhamma classified into groups of seven (e.g. the seven noble treasures, the seven latent tendencies, the seven conditions of welfare, the seven qualities of a good man, the seven qualities of a good friend, the seven types of wife, etc.), groups of eight (e.g. the eight worldly conditions, the eight qualities of a messenger-to-be, the eight donations, the eight bases of donation, the eight levels on which to perfect the three bases of meritorious action, the eight gifts of a good man, the eight virtues conducive to the present and future benefits), and groups of nine (e.g. the nine objects of malice, the nine mental states of gradual attainment, the nine progressive abidings, the nine states of immediate Nibbāna).
Volume 24: Dasaka-, and Ekādasakanipāta. This volume covers those topics of dhamma classified into groups of ten (e.g. the ten fetters, the ten perceptions, the ten virtues which make for protection, the ten growths, etc.), and groups of eleven (e.g. the eleven phenomena that naturally arise one after another without volition, the eleven advantages of loving kindness, etc.). In the Aïguttaranikàya, the teachings included are multifarious in nature, ranging from the present benefit (diṭṭhadhammikattha) to the highest benefit (paramattha), meant for both the ordained and the laity. Scattered all over the whole collection, such teachings are arranged in groups according to the number of items in each group.
5. The Khuddakanikāya ‘Collection of Minor Works’ (This is a collection of discourses, verses, explanations, and miscellaneous subjects that cannot fit into the first four collections. There are 15 scriptures.)
Volume 25: includes five minor scriptures, namely: (1) The Khuddakapāṭha ‘Shorter Texts’ covers minor discourses commonly used for chanting, e.g. Maṅgalasutta, Ratanasutta, Karaṇiyamettasutta. (2) The Dhammapada ‘Anthologies of Sayings’ contains 423 verses of dhamma. (3) The Udna ‘Paeans of Joy’ covers 80 discourses with the Buddha’s solemn utterances in verse, but with introductory prose. (4) The Itivuttaka ‘Thus Said’ covers 112 discourses, none of which begin with Eva§ me sutaṁ ‘Thus have I heard’, but all of which use the expression Iti vuccati ‘It is thus said’ to connect the introductory text in prose with the verses that follow. (5) The Suttanipāta ‘Collected Discourses’ is a special collection of 71 discourses, composed either entirely in verse, or mostly in verse but with introductory prose.
Volume 26: comprises four scriptures composed entirely in verse, namely: (1) The Vimānavatthu ‘Stories of Celestial Mansions’ covers accounts of those born in heaven, narrating their own good deeds in their past lives that brought about their present births. There are 85 such stories. (2) The Petavatthu ‘Stories of the Departed’ covers accounts narrated by ghosts (peta) of their own evil deeds in the past. There are 51 such accounts. (3) The Theragāthā ‘Verses of the Elders’ contains verses uttered by 264 Arahant elders, expressing the calm and delicate feeling in the penetration of Dhamma. (4) The Therāgāthā ‘Verses of the Women Elders’ contains verses uttered by 73 female Arahant elders, expressing the same kind of feeling as in the Theragāthā.
Volume 28: The Jātaka ‘Birth Stories’, Part 2. This volume is an additional collection of verses like those in Part 1. But the stories are longer, ranging from those with 50 verses (Paññàsanipàta) to those with a great number of verses (Mahānipāta), the last one being Mahāvessantarajātaka, with 1,000 verses. There are 22 stories in this part, bringing the total to 547 in both parts.
Volume 29: Mahāniddesa ‘Great Expositions’. This volume covers the Elder Sāriputta’s explanations on the 16 discourses preached by the Buddha in the Aṭṭhakavagga of the Suttanipāta.
Volume 30: Cūḷaniddesa. ‘Small Expositions’. This volume covers the Elder Sāriputta’s explanations on the 16 discourses preached by the Buddha in the Pārāyanavagga and Khaggavisāṅasutta in the Uragavagga of the Suttanipàta.
Volume 31: Paṭisambidāmagga ‘Way of Analysis’. This volume covers the Elder Sariputta’s explanations in great detail on such profound topics as insights, false views, mindfulness on breathing, spiritual faculties, and deliverance, all of which constitute the way of discriminating knowledge.
Volume 32: Apadāna ‘Lives of Arahants’, Part 1. This volume is a collection of verses about the personal histories of Arahants, especially in their past lives. It covers histories of Buddhas (Buddhaapadàna), accounts of Individually Enlightened Ones (Paccekabuddha- apadāna), and autobiographies of Arahant elders (Theraapadāna), beginning with the Elder Sàriputta, Mahāmoggallāna, Mahàkassapa, Anuruddha, … Ānanda, etc., totalling 410 in number.
Volume 33: Apadāna ‘Lives of Arahants’, Part 2. This volume is a continuation of the first part, covering additional autobiographies of Arahant elders, to be concluded with the 550th’s. Then comes the Therã-apadàna ‘Lives of Female Arahants’, which covers the stories of 40 female Arahant elders, starting with 16 elders whose names might not sound familiar, to be followed by such major female elders as Mahāpajāpati Gotami, Khemā, Uppalavaṇṇā, Paṭācārā,… Yasodharā and others.
After the Apadāna comes the Buddhavaṁsa at the end of Volume 33. It is a collection of verses dealing with the stories of the 24 past Buddhas with whom the present Buddha had an audience, and by whom his own future Buddhahood was also predicted. It is then concluded with the history of the present Buddha himself, thus bringing the total to 25 Buddhas.
At the end of this whole collection is a short treatise called Cariyāpiṭaka. It deals with the 35 stories of the Buddha’s modes of conduct in his past lives which are already covered in the Jātaka but which are retold, also in verse, exemplifying certain stages of the Ten Perfections. As a whole, the Khuddakanikāya can be seen as a collection of miscellaneous treatises. Although there are 15 scriptures in nine volumes, only the first volume (Volume 25) focuses on the substance of the Buddha’s teachings. All the five scriptures included in this single volume, albeit small, are quite important and very profound. The other three volumes (28–30), namely Niddesa and Paṭisambhidāmagga, though directly dealing with the Buddha’s teachings, are actually explanations given by his disciple (i.e. the Venerable Sāriputta). These explanations further clarify the Buddha’s teachings which are already in the previous volume, and can thus be regarded as prototypes of the commentaries. The remaining eight scriptures are all composed in verse, aiming for poetic beauty and to rouse feelings, e.g. to boost confidence:
Volume 26 : (Vimānavatthu, Petavatthu, Theragāthā, and Therīgāthā). This volume deals with experiences, feelings, and ways of life of virtuous and vicious individuals, as well as Arahant disciples, which should serve as examples or models for rousing the sense of urgency, providing admonitions, and raising morale for Buddhists not to do any evil, to do good, and to cultivate the Noble Path with diligence.
Volumes 27–28 : (Jātaka). These stories give moral lessons, which provide instruction, admonition, and moral support, from the Buddha’s own experiences in perfecting the ten qualities leading to Buddhahood.
Volumes 32–33 : (Apadāna, Buddhavaṁsa, and Cariyāpiṭaka). Composed in verse, they describe the personal history, way of practice, and conduct of the Buddhas, Individually Enlightened Ones (Paccekabuddha), and Arahant disciples in such a literary style that will enhance one’s appreciation of, and boost one’s confidence in, the Triple Gem.
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