The Connected Discourses of the Buddha
summary of The Connected Discourses of the Buddha (Saṁyutta Nikāya) translated by Bhikkhu Bodhi:
Bhikkhu Bodhi’s The Connected Discourses of the Buddha is one of the most comprehensive and authoritative English translations of the Saṁyutta Nikāya, a major collection of the Pali Canon that gathers the Buddha’s teachings into thematically arranged “connected” discourses. Unlike other Nikāyas that may be organized by length or subject matter, the Saṁyutta Nikāya groups suttas around recurring themes—such as the Four Noble Truths, dependent origination, mindfulness, meditation, ethics, the nature of reality, and the path to liberation. In his meticulous translation, Bhikkhu Bodhi not only preserves the clarity and directness of the original Pali texts but also provides extensive footnotes, introductions, and commentarial insights that contextualize the teachings for contemporary readers. The discourses emphasize the Buddha’s central doctrines: the impermanent and conditioned nature of all phenomena, the arising of suffering through craving and ignorance, and the possibility of liberation through wisdom and practice. The text also contains dialogues between the Buddha, his disciples, and others, which illustrate how the Dhamma was taught in different contexts, ranging from simple ethical advice to profound philosophical analyses. Bhikkhu Bodhi’s version makes these ancient teachings accessible to both scholars and practitioners, bridging rigorous academic translation with spiritual guidance. As such, the book serves as both a scholarly reference and a practical manual, showing how the Buddha’s message remains deeply relevant for addressing suffering, cultivating mindfulness, and pursuing liberation in the modern world.
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