Recommended for intermediate students
MAHĀPADĀNASUTTA
The Great Discourse on Traces Left Behind
The Buddha teaches about the six Buddhas of the past, and tells a lengthy account of one of those.
Translations
Recommended for experienced students
MAHĀNIDĀNASUTTA
The Great Discourse on Causation
Rejecting Venerable Ananda's claim to easily understand dependent origination, the Buddha presents a complex and demanding analysis, revealing hidden nuances and implications of this central teaching.
Translations
Recommended for beginner students
MAHĀPARINIBBĀNASUTTA
The Great Discourse on the Buddha's Extinguishment
The longest of all discourses, this extended narrative tells of the events surrounding the Buddha's death. Full of vivid and moving details, it is an ideal entry point into knowing the Buddha as a person, and understanding how the Buddhist community coped with his passing.
Translations
Recommended for intermediate students
MAHĀSUDASSANASUTTA
King Mahāsudassana
An elaborate story of a past life of the Buddha as a legendary king who renounced all to practice meditation.
Translations
Recommended for intermediate students
JANAVASABHASUTTA
With Janavasabha
Beginning with an account of the fates of disciples who had recently passed away, the scene shifts to a discussion of Dhamma held by the gods.
Translations
Recommended for intermediate students
MAHĀGOVINDASUTTA
The Great Steward
A minor deity informs the Buddha of the conversations and business of the gods.
Translations
Recommended for intermediate students
MAHĀSAMAYASUTTA
The Great Congregation
When deities from all realms gather in homage to the Buddha, he gives a series of verses describing them. These verses, which are commonly chanted in Theravadin countries, give one of the most detailed descriptions of the deities worshiped at the the time of the Buddha.
Translations
Recommended for intermediate students
SAKKAPAÑHASUTTA
Sakka's Questions
After hearing a love song from a god of music, the Buddha engages in a deep discussion with Sakka on the conditioned origin of attachment and suffering.
Translations
Recommended for experienced students
MAHĀSATIPAṬṬHĀNASUTTA
The Longer Discourse on Mindfulness Meditation
The Buddha details the seventh factor of the noble eightfold path, mindfulness meditation. This discourse is essentially identical to MN 10, with the addition of an extended section on the four noble truths derived from MN 141.
Translations
Recommended for intermediate students
PĀYĀSISUTTA
With Pāyāsi
This is a long and entertaining debate between a monk and a skeptic, who went to elaborate and bizarre lengths to prove that there is no such thing as an afterlife. The discourse contains a colorful series of parables and examples.