This is the detailed table of contents of In the Buddha’s Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon by Bhikkhu Bodhi, published by Wisdom Publications, but linked to the free translations available on SuttaCentral.net. Most of the translations are by Bhikkhu Sujato. Translations from the Udana are by Ven. Anandajoti and those from the Itivuttaka are by John D. Ireland.
We highly recommend that you purchase the print copy of the original book from the publisher, Wisdom Publications. You can read a book review of why this book is so important.
You can also download a printable checklist of these suttas:
The introductions below are linked to the Internet Archive saved pages of the publisher’s website.
General Introduction
I. The Human Condition
Introduction
1. Old Age, Illness, and Death
2. The Tribulations of Unreflective Living
3. A World in Turmoil
4. Without Discoverable Beginning
II. The Bringer of Light
Introduction
1. One Person (AN 1. xiii, 1, 5, 6) [AN1.170-186]
2. The Buddha’s Conception and Birth (MN 123, abridged)
3. The Quest for Enlightenment
4. The Decision to Teach (from MN 26)
5. The First Discourse (SN 56.11)
III. Approaching the Dhamma
Introduction
1. Not a Secret Doctrine (AN 3.129)
2. No Dogmas or Blind Belief (AN 3.65)
3. The Visible Origin and Passing Away of Suffering (SN 42.11)
4. Investigate the Teacher Himself (MN 47)
5. Steps toward the Realization of Truth (from MN 95)
IV. The Happiness Visible in This Present Life
Introduction
1. Upholding the Dhamma in Society
2. The Family
(1) Parents and Children
(2) Husbands and Wives
3. Present Welfare, Future Welfare (AN 8.54)
4. Right Livelihood
5. The Woman of the Home (AN 8.49)
6. The Community
V. The Way to a Fortunate Rebirth
Introduction
1. The Law of Kamma
2. Merit. The Key to Good Fortune
3. Giving
4.Moral Discipline
5. Meditation
VI. Deepening One’s Perspective on the World
Introduction
1. Four Wonderful Things (AN 4.128)
2. Gratification, Danger, and Escape
(1) Before My Enlightenment (AN 3.101 §§1–2) [3.103]
(2) I Set Out Seeking (AN 3.101 §3) [3.104]
(3) If There Were No Gratification (AN 3.105)
3. Properly Appraising Objects of Attachment (MN 13)
4. The Pitfalls in Sensual Pleasures
5. Life Is Short and Fleeting (AN 7.70) [AN 7.74]
6. Four Summaries of the Dhamma (from MN 82)
7.The Danger in Views
8. From the Divine Realms to the Infernal (AN 4.125)
9. The Perils of Saṃsāra
VII. The Path to Liberation
Introduction
1. Why Does One Enter the Path?
(1) The Arrow of Birth, Aging, and Death (MN 63)
(2) The Heartwood of the Spiritual Life (MN 29)
(3) The Fading Away of Lust (SN 45.41–48, combined Part 1 Part 2 Part3)
2. Analysis of the Eightfold Path (SN 45.8)
3. Good Friendship (SN 45.2)
4. The Graduated Training (MN 27)
5. The Higher Stages of Training with Similes (from MN 39)
VIII. Mastering the Mind
Introduction
1. The Mind Is the Key (AN 1. iii, 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10) [AN1.21-30]
2. Developing a Pair of Skills
3. The Hindrances to Mental Development (SN 46.55, abridged)
4. The Refinement of the Mind (AN 3.100 §§1–10) [AN 3.101]
5. The Removal of Distracting Thoughts (MN 20)
6. The Mind of Loving-Kindness (from MN 21)
7. The Six Recollections (AN 6.10) [Related: AN11.12 ]
8. The Four Establishments of Mindfulness (MN 10)
9. Mindfulness of Breathing (SN 54.13)
10. The Achievement of Mastery (SN 28.1–9,combined)
IX. Shining the Light of Wisdom
Introduction
1.Images of Wisdom
2. The Conditions for Wisdom (AN 8.2, abridged)
3. A Discourse on Right View (MN 9)
4. The Domain of Wisdom
(1) By Way of the Five Aggregates
(2) By Way of the Six Sense Bases
(3) By Way of the Elements
(4) By Way of Dependent Origination
(5) By Way of the Four Noble Truths
5. The Goal of Wisdom
X. The Planes of Realization
Introduction
1. The Field of Merit for the World
2. Stream-Entry
(1) The Four Factors Leading to Stream-Entry (SN 55.5)
(2) Entering the Fixed Course of Rightness (SN 25.1)
(3) The Breakthrough to the Dhamma (SN 13.1)
(4) The Four Factors of a Stream-Enterer (SN 55.2) [Related: (SN 55.1) ]
(5) Better than Sovereignty over the Earth (SN 55.1)
3. Nonreturning
4. The Arahant
5. The Tathāgata
If you find this information useful, we highly recomment that you purchase the print copy of the original book from the publisher, Wisdom Publications.
Related: