MAHĀYAMAKAVAGGA

Collections of Middle Discourses

Collections of 'middle-length' discourses and other related texts.

CŪĻAGOSINGASUTTA

MN 31
The Shorter Discourse at Gosinga

The Buddha comes across three mendicants practicing diligently and harmoniously, and asks them how they do it. Reluctant to disclose their higher attainments, they explain how they deal with the practical affairs of living together. But when pressed by the Buddha, they reveal their meditation attainments.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato 2018
English & pi
✓ aligned ✓ annotated

MAHĀGOSINGASUTTA

MN 32
The Longer Discourse at Gosinga

Several senior mendicants, reveling in the beauty of the night, discuss what kind of practitioner would adorn the park. They take their answers to the Buddha, who praises their answers, but gives his own twist.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato 2018
English & pi
✓ aligned ✓ annotated

MAHĀGOPĀLAKASUTTA

MN 33
The Longer Discourse on the Cowherd

For eleven reasons a cowherd is not able to properly look after a herd. The Buddha compares this to the spiritual growth of a mendicant.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato 2018
English & pi
✓ aligned ✓ annotated

CŪLAGOPĀLAKASUTTA

MN 34
The Shorter Discourse on the Cowherd

Drawing parallels with a cowherd guiding his herd across a dangerous river, the Buddha presents the various kinds of enlightened disciples who cross the stream of transmigration.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato 2018
English & pi
✓ aligned ✓ annotated

CŪĻASACCAKASUTTA

MN 35
The Shorter Discourse With Saccaka

Saccaka was a debater, who challenged the Buddha to a contest. Despite his bragging, the Buddha is not at all perturbed at his attacks.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato 2018
English & pi
✓ aligned ✓ annotated

MAHĀSACCAKASUTTA

MN 36
The Longer Discourse With Saccaka

In a less confrontational meeting, the Buddha and Saccaka discuss the difference between physical and mental development. The Buddha gives a long account of the various practices he did before awakening, detailing the astonishing lengths he took to mortify the body.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato 2018
English & pi
✓ aligned ✓ annotated

CŪĻATANHĀSAŃKHAYASUTTA

MN 37
The Shorter Discourse on the Ending of Craving

Moggallāna visits the heaven of Sakka, the lord of gods, to see whether he really understands what the Buddha is teaching.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato 2018
English & pi
✓ aligned ✓ annotated

MAHĀTANHĀSAŃKHAYASUTTA

MN 38
The Longer Discourse on the Ending of Craving

To counter the wrong view that a self-identical consciousness transmigrates from one life to the next, the Buddha teaches dependent origination, showing that consciousness invariably arises dependent on conditions.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato 2018
English & pi
✓ aligned ✓ annotated

MAHĀASSAPURASUTTA

MN 39
The Longer Discourse at Assapura

The Buddha encourages the mendicants to live up to their name, by actually practicing in a way that meets or exceeds the expectations people have for renunciants.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato 2018
English & pi
✓ aligned ✓ annotated

CŪĻAASSAPURASUTTA

MN 40
The Shorter Discourse at Assapura

The labels of being a spiritual practitioner don't just come from external trappings, but from sincere inner change.

Translations

Bhikkhu Sujato 2018
English & pi
✓ aligned ✓ annotated