With 2889 suttas, the Samyutta Nikaya is a bit daunting, not only to read, but to try to come up with a way to study this wonderful mass of material. The suttas are divided into 56 books, with all the suttas in a book covering the same topic. Some of the topics are much more interesting than others, many contain much repetition. My personal favorite books are 12, 22, 35; reading these in their entirety would certainly make a good starting point.

What follows is a list, with perhaps a single line of notes, for the suttas I found the most interesting and helpful.

• The first 11 books are not all that interesting, but here are a few interesting suttas.
  

  1.1	"When I struggled, I was whirled about. When I stopped, I sank. And so I crossed over the flood without struggling, without stopping."
  1.23&27	Both describe Nibbana. Where name-and-form cease without remainder (cf DN 11, MN 49 & SN 7.6)
  2.17	Release from fear
  2.26	You cannot travel to the end of the world; this fathom long carcass, endowed with perception and mind, is the world. See also AN 4.45
  3.4	All you own is your karmic resultants. "the merits and evil done, this is what is truly ones own."
  3.8	"Each person holds oneself most dear."
  3.17	The importance of diligence
  3.25	4 mountains come from the 4 directions crusing all in their paths - i.e. aging and death are coming
  5.1-10	All the nuns' verses are interesting; includes Kisagotami, Sariputta's 3 sisters, and Vajira's not-self simile of the chariot
  6.1	Brahma Sahampati requests that the Buddha teach the Dhamma
  7.2	The Buddha cleverly deals with another's anger
  7.6	Again describing Nibbana as where name-and-form cease without remainder (cf SN 1.23 & 27 above)
  8.4	Verses on extinguishing lust
  8.5	Altho the prose is uninteresting, Ven. Vangisa's 4 verses on Right Speech are quite good
  10.8	How Anathapindika first met the Buddha

• Book 12 is about Dependent Origination and contains much valuable information on this most important topic.
  

  12.2	Details of Dependent Origination
  12.10	Dependent Origination and Awakening (12 links)
  12.15	Dependent Origination is Right View; also this is a very important teaching by the Buddha on Emptiness and the Middle Way. See 12.46, 47 & 48 for 3 more suttas on Dependent Origination as the middle way between extremes
  12.17	Kassapa learns that dukkha arises via Dependent Origination
  12.23	Transcendental Dependent Origination
  12.38,39,40	Volition and Dependent Origination
  12.43	Dukkha and Dependent Origination
  12.46	Karma and Dependent Origination
  12.51	Thorough Investigation
  12.61	Body as self is easier to overcome than Mind as self; monkey mind simile
  12.64	At the end is the important simile (the house with no western wall) for consciousness not becoming established when there is no lust for nutriment
  12.65	The Ancient City - very important (10 links)
  12.66	Inward Exploration - Contains a simple (early?) formulation of Dependent Origination which is clearer & easier to understand than the 10 or 12 element formulations
  12.67	The simile of the 2 sheaves leaning against each other as an explaination of how consciousness & mind-and-body are mutually dependent
  12.70	Dependent Origination and the irrelevance of the magical powers

• Books 13 - 21 contain only a few interesting suttas, but these are quite important.
  

  15.5,6	The length of an Eon
  15.7,8	The number of Eons that have passed
  15.10	The Heap of Bones
  15.14-19	All beings have been your mother, father, brother, sister, son, daughter
  16.1-13	The 13 suttas of the Maha Kassapa samyutta paints a vivid picture of this great disciple of the Buddha
  16.3	The attitude to have when teaching the Dhamma
  16.11	Mahakassapa's Enlightenment (and the incident after the Buddha's death of Mahakassapa referring to Ananda as a "youngster" and Ananda pointing out the grey hairs on his head)
  16.13	Factors that bring about the Decline of the True Damma
  20.2	Precious Human Birth. "Few are beings reborn among humans. Far more are those reborn elsewhere."
  20.7	When the True Dhamma is replaced by mere poetry
  21.1	The 2nd Jhana is Noble Silence since it is without thinking and examining. Makes the commentarial definition of vitakka and vicara as initial and sustained attention rather suspect

• Book 22 is about the Aggregates, another very important topic

  22.1
  22.2
  22.5	Aggregates and Dependent Origination
  22.7-8	Aggregates and Dependent Origination
  22.26	Awakening and the Aggregates
  22.27,28,29	more on gratification
  22.37-38	Aggregates and Arising & Ceasing
  22.43	How to be an Island
  22.53
  22.55	"It might not be"
  22.56
  22.57	Definition of Aggregates
  22.59	The 2nd Discourse. Not Self
  22.60
  22.79	Definitions plus Examples
  22.80
  22.81	37 Factors of Awakening plus View of Self
  22.82	Same as MN 109 - excellent discussion of the aggerates, clinging, personality view, realization of non-self
  22.85	Yamaka holds the view that an arahant is "annihilated, perishes, & does not exist after death." Sariputta sets him straight. See especially Bhikkhu Bodhi's footnote #151 - Yamaka believes "unenlightened beings have a lasting self which transmigrates; an arahant utterly perishes" - a common view among Buddhist today.
  22.86	The Buddha. "I make known dukkha and the cessation of dukkha."
  22.88	Insight, rather than Concentration, is what matters
  22.89	The conceit "I am" lingers for the non-returner like the scent of a flower ligners
  22.90	About Channa (Prince Siddhartha's charioteer)
  22.94	See 12.15
  22.95	Emptiness - Form is like a glob of foam; feeling, a water bubble; perception, a mirage; mental formations, a banana tree; consciousness, a magic trick
  22.99	The impermanence of the world; the dog tied to the post, running around and around (the 5 aggregates). See also 22.100
  22.101	Practice! 37 Factors of Awakening; similes of The Hen, The Adze Handle, The Ship's Rigging
  22.102	Arising & Ceasing and How it Works

• I found only one sutta interesting in books 23 - 34.
  23.2     Sandcastles

• Book 35 contains 248 suttas on the 6 Sense Bases
  It is quite instructive to read all 248 in a single sitting (and not that hard to do either due to the many repetitions).

  35.28	The 3rd Discourse. The Fire Sermon
  35.63-64	Instructions to Ven. Migajala. Sense objects should be experienced without seeking delight, welcoming or holding them
  35.93	"The Dyad" 6+5
  35.95	Guarding the Senses Explained
  35.96	Decline
  35.97	Guarding the Senses [35.98 = 35.96+35.07]
  35.103	The Buddha quotes a verse from his teacher Uddaka Ramaputta and interprets it in his own way
  35.127	The Morality Aspects of Training
  35.134	Guarding the Senses and its Effects
  35.160	Concentration
  35.229	The Ocean
  35.230	Mara's Bait (Fisherman)
  35.231	Milktree Sap
  35.232	The Eye is not a Fetter; A Form is not a Fetter
  35.234	Consciousness is Not Self
  35.238	Similie of 4 vipers, 5 enemies, murderous companion, empty village, bandits, great expanse of water, near shore, far shore, raft, making effort, crossed over
  35.241	The Simile of the Great Log - attributes needed to reach Nibbana (also at SN 35.242)
  35.243	Moggallana theaches the corrupted and the uncorrupted
  35.244	(The challenging first sentence is well worth studying.)
  35.245	Different Ways of Practice; also the simile of the swift pair of messengers
  35.247	The Simile of the 6 Animals

• Book 36 teaches us what is really meant by Vedana (and it's not Emotions!).

  36.3	Definition of Vedana
  36.4	An instructed noble disciple does not sorrow, grieve or lament when experiencing a painful bodily Vedana
  36.6	The 2 Arrows
  36.14	The Guest House
  36.15	Vedana Details
  36.16,17,18	About Vedana
  36.19	Jhanas and more sublime feelings
  36.21	Karma and present circumstances cause current Vedana - i.e. not all one experiences is caused by Karma
  36.23-26	About Vedana
  36.31	Worldly & Unworldly Vedana

• Book 37 discusses powers possessed by women
  It appears the Buddha had great respect for women, unlike the picture sometimes painted by the patriarchy.

• Various terms are explained in book 38 (book 39 is identical)
  38.14   The 3 Kinds of Suffering (dukkha)

• Book 40 contains discourses with Moggallana

  40.1	This sutta uses the word ekaggata in reference to the first jhana (one of only 3 - the other 2 being MN 43 & MN 111); it also makes it clear that vitakka & vicara do not mean "initial and sustained attention" in the context of the jhanas as found in the suttas.
  40.9	"by nonattention to all signs, one enters and dwells in the signless concentration of mind."

• Book 41 is discourses with the householder Citta

  41.3	How Wrong Views Arise (compare with DN #1)
  41.6	About Nirodha (the cessation of feeling and perception)
  41.7	Measureless, Nothingness & Emptiness explained

• Book 42 contains various discourses given to Headmen

  42.2	Acting is not Right Livelihood
  42.3-5	Being a Soldier is not Right Livelihood
  42.13	A valuable and broad ranging discussion with the headman Pataliya. Includes that the Buddha knows magic but is not a magician.

• Book 43 on the Unfabricated (Asaṅkhata) had no suttas that caught my attention; however, it does give 33 names for Nibbana:
  
  the unfabricated, the uninclined, the truth, the far shore, the subtle, the very difficult to see, the unaging, the stable, the unintegrating, the unmanifest, the unproliferated (nippapancan), the peaceful, the deathless, the sublime, the auspicious, the secure, the destruction of craving, the wonderful, the amazing, the unailing, the unailing state, Nibbana, the unafflicted, dispassion, purity, freedom, the unadhesive, the island, the shelter, the asylum, the refuge, the destination.

• Book 44 is about Undeclared Points
  44.7,8,9,10,11   Vacchagotta's Questions - very interesting; in 44.10, the Buddha is silent both when asked "is there a self?" and "is there no self?"

• The Path is discussed in book 45

  45.2	Ananda and Half the Holy Life
  45.8	The 8-Fold Path Defined - very important
  45.149	Virtue is the foundation for all progress along the Noble 8-fold Path
  45.159	The Guest House
  45.165	The 3 Types of Suffering (dukkha) [also at 38.14]

• Book 46 discussed the Factors of Awakening

  46.2	Nutriment for the 5 Hindrances and the 7 Factors of Awakening
  46.3	The 7 Factors of Awakening linked together plus the 5 Types of Non-returner
  46.4	The 7 Factors of Awakening are measureless, perfected, persist and abate for reasons
  46.5	The 7 Factors of Awakening called that because they lead to Awakening
  46.6	How to practice Sense Restraint and how this leads to The 7 Factors of Awakening
  46.11	Moral Conduct (Virtue) is the Foundation
  46.14,15,16	Chanting The 7 Factors of Awakening as a cure for illness
  46.31-32	Diligence as the Root and also Careful Attention
  46.39	Hindrances strangle life like a parasitic tree
  46.51	Like 46.2, but much deeper
  46.53	The 7 Factors of Awakening versus a sluggish or excited mind (need to balance the last 6 awakening factors)
  46.54	The 7 Factors of Awakening and the 4 Brahma Viharas
  46.55	The 5 Hindrances and the Pools of Water
  46.56	Causes and conditions for having or not having Knowledge and Vision

• The Establishment of Mindfulness is discussed in Book 47

  47.6	A Jataka Tale. The Hawk and the Quail
  47.7	Catching Monkeys (source of the Uncle Remus "Tar Baby" tale)
  47.9	Be an Island (also in DN #16)
  47.12	Sariputta's "Lion's Roar" (also in DN #16 and DN #28)
  47.13	Sariputta's Death
  47.14	After hearing of the deaths of Sariputta and Moggallana, The Buddha says one should "Be an Island"
  47.19	The Acrobats. Protecting oneself and others via the 4 Establishments of Mindfulness
  47.20	A brilliant simile on the meaning of Mindfulness. Beautiful girl, jug of oil & a sharp sword
  47.35	Clear Comprehension and Feelings, Thoughts & Perceptions

• Book 48 discusses the Faculties

  48.1	The 5 Faculties
  48.9	The 5 Faculties explained in a different way
  48.10	48.9 plus the standard definition of the 5 Faculties
  48.15	5 Types of Non-returner (see also 48.66, 51.26, 54.5 & 55.25)
  48.24	5 Types of Non-returner + 3 Types of Stream Enterer
  48.36	5 Other Faculties with definitions
  48.40	5 Other Faculties and the Jhanas [questionable logic(!)]
  48.41	The Buddha is subject to aging
  48.43	The 5 Faculties are the same as The 5 Powers
  48.50	How The 5 Faculties work to bring Liberation
  48.51	Wisdom is the Chief (most important) [also 48.52, 54, 55, 67-70]

• Books 49 & 50 Right Striving and The Powers - but not much of interest

• The Bases for Spiritual Power are the subject of Book 51

  51.10	The strange story of Ananda not asking the Buddha to live 100 years [also in DN #16]
  51.11-12	The 4 Bases of Power lead to development of the magical powers
  51.15	Wise Wishes
  51.20	Details of the 4 Bases of Power

• Book 52 contains Discourses with Anurudda
  52.1   Mindfulness, arising & ceasing, internal & external

• Book 53 has some information about The Jhanas
  53.1   The 4 Jhanas defined and that they lead one towards Nibbana

• Book 54 has discourses on Mindfulness of Breathing

  54.1	One thing when developed is of great benefit. Mindfulness of Breathing [also in MN #118]
  54.8	Mindfulness of Breathing leads to Jhanas and to Insights
  54.9	Monks hear discourse on foulness of the body; many commit suicide; Ananda requests discourses on Mindfulness of Breathing instead of foulness
  54.10	Mindfulness of Breathing fulfills the Four Establishments of Mindfulness [also in MN #118]
  54.13	Contains much of the material from MN #118

• Book 55 talks about Stream Entry

  55.1	Better to be a Stream Enterer than a World ruling Monarch
  55.3	Dighavu Sutta: 6 things that partake of true knowledge: contemplating impermanence in all formations, perceiving dukkha in all that is impermanent, perceiving non-self in all that is dukkha, perceiving abandonment, perceiving fading away, perceiving cessation
  55.6	4 factors of Stream Entry
  55.7	Do unto others as you would have them do unto you
  55.8&10	Also in DN #16
  55.37	How a lay follower is accomplished in various ways
  55.39	Stream Entry factors for a lay woman (cf. 55.6 - same factors as for a lay man)
  55.50	4 factors for Stream Entry: association with superior persons, hearing the true Dhamma, careful attention, practice in accordance with the Dhamma (see also 55.55-74)

• Book 56 discusses The 4 Noble Truths

  56.1-2	What to do
  56.7-10	What not to do
  56.11	The 1st Sermon. Setting in Motion the Wheel of Dhamma
  56.21	Also in DN #16
  56.31	A Handful of Leaves
  56.34	Practice like your hair is on fire
  56.42,43&46	A short version of Dependent Origination
  56.47-48	Precious Human Birth. The simile of the turtle and the yoke
  56.49-60	A Stream Enterer has much less Dukkha than a non-stream enterer

Back to the Study Guide to the Suttas

Back to Leigh's Home Page

Site Map

Site Search

Permalink http://leighb.com/studysn.htm [] Hosted by

Leigh Brasington / / Revised 05 May 22