The Long Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Digha Nikaya (The Teachings of the Buddha) [2 ed.] 0861711033, 9780861711031

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MAURICE O’CONNELL WALSHE (1911–98) was born in London and studied German at the universities of London, Berlin, Vienna, and Freiburg. Following his retirement as a professor of German languages and literature in 1979, he became deputy director of the Institute of Germanic Studies, London. An active Buddhist and Pali scholar since 1951, he was vice president of the Buddhist Society and an early chair of the English Sangha Trust, helping to found the monasteries of Cittaviveka and Amaravati in Great Britain. In addition to translating the present book, first published in 1987 under the title ThusH aveIH eard, and writing numerous articles on Buddhism, he also wrote Buddhism forToday(1962), M edievalG erm an Literature(1962), and Introduction to theScandanavian Languages(1965) and translated the complete works of the thirteenthcentury Christian mystic Meister Eckhart (1979–87).

TEACHINGS OF THE BUDDHA The

Long

Discourses of the Buddha

The

Long A Translation of the – – Digha Nikaya

Discourses Buddha of the

Maurice Walshe

A Translation of the WISDOM PUBLICATIONS, a nonprofit publisher, is dedicated to making available authentic Buddhist works for the benefit of all. We publish translations of the sutras and tantras, commentaries and teachings of past and contemporary Buddhist masters, and original works by the world’s leading Buddhist scholars. We publish our titles with the appreciation of Buddhism as a living philosophy and with the special commitment to preserve and transmit important works from all the major Buddhist traditions.

–

by

Maurice Walshe

WISDOM PUBLICATIONS * BOSTON WISDOM PUBLICATIONS * BOSTON

–

Digha Nikaya

ISBN 978-0-86171-103-1

US$45.00

WISDOM

THIS BOOK OFFERS a complete translation of the D ıgha N ik›ya, the long discourses of the Buddha, one of the major collections of texts in the Pali Canon, the authorized scriptures of Therav›da Buddhism. This collection— among the oldest records of the historical Buddha’s original teachings, given in India two and a half thousand years ago—consists of thirty-four longer-length suttas, or discourses, distinguished as such from the middle-length and shorter suttas of the other collections. These suttas reveal the gentleness, compassion, power, and penetrating wisdom of the Buddha. Included are teachings on mindfulness (M ah›satipa˛˛h›na Sutta); on morality, concentration, and wisdom (Subha Sutta); on dependent origination (M ah›nidr›na Sutta); on the roots and causes of wrong views (Brahm aj›la Sutta); and a long description of the Buddha’s last days and passing away (M ah›parinibb›na Sutta); along with a wealth of practical advice and insight for all those travelling along the spiritual path. Venerable Sumedho Thera writes in his foreword: “[These suttas] are not meant to be ‘sacred scriptures’ that tell us what to believe. One should read them, listen to them, think about them, contemplate them, and investigate the present reality, the present experience, with them. Then, and only then, can one insightfully know the truth beyond words.” Introduced with a vivid account of the Buddha’s life and times and a short survey of his teachings, TheLong D iscoursesofthe Buddhabrings us closer in every way to the wise and compassionate presence of Gotama Buddha and his path of truth.

The LONG DISCOURSES of the BUDDHA

Tl IE TEACHlNCS OF THE BUDDHA

The

Long

Discourses of the

Buddha

~ A Translation of the

Digha Nikaya ~

Translated from the Pali by

Maurice Walshe

WISDOM PUBLICATIONS • BOSTON

www.wisdompubs.org

© Maurice Walshe, 1987, 1995, 2012

ISBN 978-0-86171-103-1 eBook ISBN 978-0-86171-979-2 17 16 15 14 13 13 12 11 10 9

Printed in the United States of America.

To the Sangha East and West

Range

Contents

List of Illustrations 10 Foreword 11 Preface 13 TechnicalNotes 15 Introduction 19 SummaryoftheThirty-FourSuttas DIVISION ONE: THE MORALITIES

1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11

55

Brahmajiila Sutta: The Supreme Net What the Teaching Is Not 67 Siimaiiiiaphala Sutta: The Fruits of the Homeless Life 91 Ambattha Sutta: About Ambattha Pride Humbled 111 So1Jada1J4a Sutta: About Sm).adaiJ.