Sayings of the Buddha: A Selection of Suttas From the Pali Nikāyas

As more and more westerners study and practice Buddhism, reliable modern translations of the Buddhas teachings are increasingly in demand. One of the main sources for knowledge of the Buddhadharma is the four Pali Nikayas or «collections» of his sayings. Written in Pali, an ancient Indian language closely related to Sanskrit, the Nikayas are among the oldest Buddhist texts and consist of more than one and a half million words. This new translation offers a selection of the Buddhas most important sayings, reflecting the full variety of material contained in the Nikayas: the central themes of the Buddhas teaching (his biography, philosophical discourse, instruction on morality, meditation, and the spiritual life) and the range of literary style (myth, dialogue, narrative, short sayings, verse). This edition is the most critically up-to-date and For anyone seeking a more direct encounter with the Buddhas words and teaching, this new translation will prove to be essential reading, rewarding scholars and practitioners alike.