Pabbajjāsutta
The Going Forth
The young Bodhisatta (Buddha-to-be), soon after leaving home, explains why he refuses King Bimbisāra's offer of a position in his court.
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Padhānasutta
Striving
Māra attempts to dissuade the Bodhisatta from his path.
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Subhāsitasutta
Well-Spoken Words
Four characteristics of well-spoken speech.
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Pūraḷāsa (sundarikabhāradvāja) sutta
With Bhāradvāja of Sundarika on the Sacrificial Cake
A brahman questions the Buddha to see if the latter deserves to receive the cake resulting from his sacrifice.
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Māghasutta
With Māgha on Giving
What are the qualities of a recipient that produce the most merit from a gift?
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Sabhiyasutta
Sabhiya’s Questions
A sutta dating from early in the Buddha's teaching career. A wanderer, disappointed in the teachings he has received from other teachers, approaches the Buddha with his questions.
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Selasutta
With Sela
Sela the brahman praises the Buddha to see how the latter responds to praise.
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Sallasutta
The Dart
Death and loss are inevitable, but grief is not.
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Vāseṭṭhasutta
With Vāseṭṭha
Is one worthy of respect because of one's birth, or because of one's actions?
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Kokālikasutta
To Kokāliya on the Results of Slander
A follower of Devadatta slanders Ven. Sāriputta and Ven. Moggallāna and, after suffering a painful disease, falls into hell. The sutta then gives a graphic description of the sufferings awaiting him there.
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Nālakasutta
The Sages Asita and Nālaka
A sutta in two parts. The first part gives an account of events soon after the birth of the Bodhisatta. The second part describes the way of the sage.
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Dvayatānupassanāsutta
Contemplating Pairs
Not all dualities are misleading. This sutta teaches ways to contemplate the duality of the origination and cessation of stress and suffering so as to reach awakening.