The Numbered Discourses

A Translation of the Aṅguttara Nikāya

De: Bhikkhu Sujato

Narrado por: Taradasa

The Numbered Discourses (Aṅguttara Nikāya) is the last and longest of the four primary divisions of the Sutta Piṭaka, (Baskets of Discourses) that make up the main original teachings of the Buddha.

The word aṅguttara literally means 'up by one factor', i.e. 'incremental'. It refers to the fact that the discourses are arranged by numbered sets, with the numbers increasing by one. It is divided into 11 Books (nipāta), each arranged in varying number of Chapters (vaggas), which themselves contain numerous suttas (often grouped in thematic clusters).

There are some 8,122 discourses in all. The underlying organising principle is, thus, quite straightforward: each Book presents a particular number or set of items providing a route to easy assimilation and memorisation. 'The Book of the Twos', for example, is used for pairs, which may be partners, hands, eyes, man and wife, opponents; good versus evil, light versus dark, pain versus pleasure; even skill in entering meditation and skill in leaving it. It represents the dualities of the world.

It must be said, however, that the apparent simplicity of the overall structure is not always reflected in a straightforward presentation of the content. This can, at times, seem arbitrary, and is certainly repetitious. But The Numbered Discourses is one of the most accessible of the Nikāyas for its focus is often on practical matters of everyday relevance. Guidelines of ethics and character predominate. If the Saṁyutta Nikāya gathers the chief teachings on doctrines, the Aṅguttara Nikāya gathers the teachings on persons: the concerns of the lay community are a major concern. For this reason the Aṅguttara provides an excellent entry point to the Pāli Canon, especially for those with a limited amount of time. It only takes a few minutes to digest a sutta that will contain within itself a complete and useful teaching. The Saṁyutta is like a school curriculum: everything you need to know on a topic, all in one place. But the Aṅguttara is like a school day.

Though The Numbered Discourses covers a vast ground, social and practical matters predominate: issues of family, friendship and harmony within secular and spiritual communities. The Buddha advises on common practicalities and higher progress across the range of human activities. In doing so, he encounters individuals from all walks of life, from kings, courtesans and artisans to numerous spiritual seekers, both from the Buddhist Sangha and other ‘wanderers’ following different paths. He also has many encounters with Brahmins and other high-caste individuals who sometimes set out specifically to challenge his wisdom and authority while others come to learn. The manner in which he deals with these approaches - with clarity, irrefutable logic, confidence, humour and sometimes uncompromising refutation - reveals the character of the Buddha himself.

This new and modern English version of The Numbered Discourses is by the Australian-born Theravadin monk Bhikkhu Sujato, who has undertaken a translation of the four main Nikāyas expressly to present the works in an accessible manner for the 21st century. He has dealt flexibly with the numerous repetitions embedded in the original texts - eliding sentences where necessary to keep the content and the message fresh and alive. He has further given his Dhamma translations a new character by boldly giving new English expressions for primary Pāli words. Among them are ‘extinguishment’ for nibbana, ‘absorption’ for jhana, 'immersion’ for samādhi, 'mendicant' for bhikkhu and ‘the Realised One’ for Tathāgata. In this manner, Bhikkhu Sujato has made a particularly welcome contribution to the 21st dissemination of the Dhamma. The Numbered Discourses is read in an engaged and clear manner by Taradasa.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2019 Bhikkhu Sujato (P)2021 Ukemi Productions Ltd

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Excellent Dharma Talk

Loved it. Excellent Listening. Comes with great merit. Thank you. wonderful listening time. would hear it again.

Obviously not for everyone but ... 😏

if you have gotten *this* far, this audiobook might be for you. Only special people enjoy 57 hour audiobooks of numbered lists of Buddhist doctrine and practice guidelines. Some of the shorter lists read a bit like Buddhist graffiti but I enjoy listening to this in the background while doing light tasks and seeing what "rises up" into awareness.

The performance by Taradasa is, as usual, marvelous and pitch perfect. No flaws in the production at all. And while this obviously has no "narrative line" there are many useful and helpful teachings and moments of humor and insight.

My only complaint is that the "cover" image strangely shows this to be Bhikkhu Bodhi's translation, when it is *not*. The textual description mentions (correctly) many times that this is the more, uhm, *fluid* translation of Bhikkhu Sujato. I didn't notice this for some time until I brought up Bhikkhu Bodhi's text to "read along" with the audiobook and realized that it didn't match.

AUDIBLE please replace the cover image with the correct one (freely available on the web)? Thank you ...

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bodhi imposes his views in his translations. taradasa seems nice but his accent doesnt work for pali.

the title mostly gets it. excuse any mobile typos. bhikku bodhi uses to be one of my favorite monks. then i bought a bunch of his books. and i learned pali. anyone that knows pali can see thst all of these translators do not give their best translation. some do but most give the translation that fits their views the best... not ehat is most true to the original teachings. meet bhikku bodhi. most people will not know better withoit extensive study. i own the canon and most important mahayana sutras. over time you learn.

regarding taradasa, i understand people have acxents but his is non-rhotic meaning he drops the r at the end of words. this is very bad in here because it can make it hard to tell if he id aying a pali word or just trying to sound fancy with english


and he does pronounce many pali and sanskrit off a bit. sometimes he almost seems excited to be saying them.. its hard to explain

i appreciate the work thats gone into this but im rather sad this is the best humanity could produce.

ill have yet another translation out eventually. it is time for a translation that shows the actual potentisls as theu sre in pali ... not ideas forced into an english mindset.

this isnt just a different language. it od a different mindset. when a translator forces locsl views in their translations. meaning is lost.

if you sit and read the book it is easier to reflect on it. lostening to it, you will miss a lot of what im talking about unless you pay close attention or know this stuff by heart.

best wishes to everyone thst helped with this but i see bodhi doing the same with all his books and taradasa is being ised to narrate every book like this. the pali terms left in it are left in because they matter. kf you cannot tell if he is saying panner or pañña then there is an issue. it would be nkcenif theu let a proper speaker try nsrrating once.

and again excuse my typos. no auto anythjng.