Readings in the Madhyama-āgama

An e-learning online course by Bhikkhu Anālayo

Numata Center for Buddhist Studies

University of Hamburg

 

 

 Course held in 2012:

 

 The Arahant and the Four Truths

 in Early Buddhist Discourse

The lectures held during the summer semester of 2012 covered the chapters 3 and 4 (discourses 21 to 41) of the Madhyama-āgama. Audio files of the lectures can be audited or downloaded as mp3 files, together with the respective lectures notes as pdfs, at the links given below for each lecture.

 

Lecture 1 audio file

Guest Lecture audio file

pdf notes to lecture 1

 

Lecture 1 covers MĀ 21, followed by a guest lecture by Bhikkhu Bodhi:

 

MĀ 21 Discourse on an Even Mind (等心經)

Pāli Parallel: untitled AN 2.4.5, PTS ed. AN I 63

please consult Bhikkhu Bodhi (Numerical Discourses) pp. 155-157 (given as discourse no. 36)

 

Lecture 2 audio file

pdf notes to lecture 2

 

Lecture 2 covers MĀ 22 and MĀ 23:

 

MĀ 22 Discourse on Being Accomplished in Virtue (成就戒經)

Pāli Parallel: Nirodha-sutta, AN 5.166, PTS ed. AN III 192

please consult Bhikkhu Bodhi (Numerical Discourses) pp. 777-780

 

MĀ 23 Discourse on Wisdom (智經)

Pāli Parallel: Kaḷāra-sutta, SN 12.32, PTS ed. SN II 50

please consult Bhikkhu Bodhi (Connected Discourses) pp. 567-571

  

Lecture 3 audio file

pdf notes to lecture 3

 

Lecture 3 covers MĀ 24 and MĀ 25:

 

MĀ 24 Discourse on the Lion's Roar (師子吼經)

Pāli Parallel: Sīhanāda-sutta, AN 9.11, PTS ed. AN IV 373

please consult Bhikkhu Bodhi (Numerical Discourses) pp. 1261-1264

 

MĀ 25 Discourse on Water Similes ()

Pāli Parallel: Dutiya-āghātapaṭivinaya-sutta, AN 5.162, PTS ed. AN III 186

please consult Bhikkhu Bodhi (Numerical Discourses) pp. 774-777

  

Lecture 4 audio file

pdf notes to lecture 4

 

Lecture 4 covers MĀ 26:

 

MĀ 26 Discourse on Gulissāni (瞿尼師經)

Pāli Parallel: Gulissāni-sutta, MN 69, PTS ed. MN I 469

please consult Bhikkhu Bodhi (Middle Length Discourses) pp. 572-576

 

Lecture 5 audio file

pdf notes to lecture 5

 

Lecture 5 covers MĀ 27:

 

MĀ 27 Discourse to the Brahmin Dhānañjāni (梵志陀然經)

Pāli Parallel: Dhānañjāni-sutta, MN 97, PTS ed. MN II 184

please consult Bhikkhu Bodhi (Middle Length Discourses) pp. 791-797

  

Lecture 6 audio file

pdf notes to lecture 6

 

Lecture 6 covers MĀ 28 and the first part of MĀ 29:

 

MĀ 28 Discourse on Teaching the Sick (教化病經)

Pāli Parallel: Paṭhama-Anāthapiṇḍika-sutta, SN 55.26, PTS ed. SN V 380

please consult Bhikkhu Bodhi (Connected Discourses) pp. 1816-1819

 

MĀ 29 Discourse by Mahākoṭṭhita (大拘絺羅經)

Pāli Parallel: Sammādiṭṭhi-sutta, MN 9, PTS ed. MN I 46

please consult Bhikkhu Bodhi (Middle Length Discourses) pp. 132-144

  

Lecture 7 audio file

pdf notes to lecture 7

 

Lecture 7 covers the remainder of MĀ 29 and the first part of MĀ 30:

 

MĀ 29 Discourse by Mahākoṭṭhita (大拘絺羅經)

Pāli Parallel: Sammādiṭṭhi-sutta, MN 9, PTS ed. MN I 46

please consult Bhikkhu Bodhi (Middle Length Discourses) pp. 132-144

 

MĀ 30 Discourse on the Simile of the Elephant's Footprint (象跡)

Pāli Parallel: Mahāhatthipadopama-sutta, MN 28, PTS ed. MN I 184

please consult Bhikkhu Bodhi (Middle Length Discourses) pp. 278-285

  

Lecture 8 audio file

pdf notes to lecture 8

 

Lecture 8 covers the remainder of MĀ 30:

 

MĀ 30 Discourse on the Simile of the Elephant's Footprint (象跡)

Pāli Parallel: Mahāhatthipadopama-sutta, MN 28, PTS ed. MN I 184

please consult Bhikkhu Bodhi (Middle Length Discourses) pp. 278-285

  

Lecture 9 audio file

pdf notes to lecture 9

 

Lecture 9 covers MĀ 31 and MĀ 32:

 

MĀ 31 Discourse on an Analysis of the Noble Truths (分別聖諦經)

Pāli Parallel: Saccavibhaṅga-sutta, MN 141, PTS ed. MN III 248

please consult Bhikkhu Bodhi (Middle Length Discourses) pp. 1097-1101

 

MĀ 32 Discourse on Wonderful and Marvellous Qualities (未曾有法)

Pāli Parallel: Acchariya-abbhūta-sutta, MN 123, PTS ed. MN III 118

please consult Bhikkhu Bodhi (Middle Length Discourses) pp. 979-984

  

Lecture 10 audio file

pdf notes to lecture 10

 

Lecture 10 covers MĀ 33 and MĀ 34:

 

MĀ 33 Discourse on the Attendant (侍者)

no Pāli Parallel (cf. Th 1018-1050)

 

MĀ 34 Discourse by Bakkula (薄拘羅)

Pāli Parallel: Bakkula-sutta, MN 124, PTS ed. MN III 124

please consult Bhikkhu Bodhi (Middle Length Discourses) pp. 985-988

 

Lecture 11 audio file

pdf notes to lecture 11

 

Lecture 11 covers MĀ 35 to MĀ 40:

 

MĀ 35 Discourse to an Asura (阿修羅)

Pāli Parallel: Pahārāda-sutta, AN 8.19, PTS ed. AN IV 197

please consult Bhikkhu Bodhi (Numerical Discourses) pp. 1142-1145

 

MĀ 36 Discourse on Earthquakes (地動)

Pāli Parallel: Bhūmicala-sutta, AN 8.70, PTS ed. AN IV 308

please consult Bhikkhu Bodhi (Numerical Discourses) pp. 1212-1216

 

MĀ 37 Discourse at Campā (瞻波)

Pāli Parallel: Uposatha-sutta, AN 8.20, PTS ed. AN IV 204

please consult Bhikkhu Bodhi (Numerical Discourses) pp. 1145-1147

 

MĀ 38 Discourse by Ugga (1st) (郁伽長者)

Pāli Parallel: Ugga-sutta, AN 8.21-22, PTS ed. AN IV 208

please consult Bhikkhu Bodhi (Numerical Discourses) pp. 1147-1149

 

MĀ 39 Discourse by Ugga (2nd) (郁伽長者)

no Pāli Parallel

 

MĀ 40 Discourse on Hatthaka (1st) (手長者)

Pāli Parallel: Dutiyahatthaka-sutta, AN 8.24, PTS ed. AN IV 218

please consult Bhikkhu Bodhi (Numerical Discourses) pp. 1153-1154

 

MĀ 41 Discourse on Hatthaka (2nd) (手長者)

Pāli Parallel: Paṭhamahatthaka-sutta, AN 8.23, PTS ed. AN IV 216

please consult Bhikkhu Bodhi (Numerical Discourses) pp. 1152-1153