Nidana Vagga

Category: Samyutta Nikaya

From Buddhist Encyclopedia

Nidana Vagga - The Section on Causation

12. Nidana-samyutta — Paticcasamuppada (dependent co-arising)

• Paticca-samuppada-vibhanga Sutta - A summary of the causal chain of dependent co-arising.
• Ahara Sutta — Nutriment [Nyanaponika | Thanissaro]. The Buddha explains how the teachings on the four nutriments (ahara) fits in with dependent co-arising.
• Phagguna Sutta - To Phagguna, some questions, by presupposing the existence of an abiding "self," are fundamentally invalid. The Buddha shows how to re-frame these questions in a way that conduces to liberation.
• Kaccayanagotta Sutta - To Kaccayana Gotta SuttaReadings.net icon [Thanissaro]. The Buddha explains to Ven. Kaccayana Gotta how dependent co-arising applies in the development of right view.
• Acela Sutta — To the Clothless Ascetic [Thanissaro]. A perplexed ascetic asks the Buddha: "Is dukkha created by the self? By other? By both? By neither?" The Buddha's answers at first baffle, then inspire, Kassapa, who eventually gains Awakening.
  • Bala-pandita Sutta — The Fool and the Wise Person [Thanissaro]. What is the difference between a fool and a wise person?
• Paccaya Sutta - The Buddha explains that when dependent co-arising is clearly seen and understood, wrong views and confusion disappear.
• Upanisa Sutta - The Buddha explains how seeing deeply into dependent co-arising leads to Awakening. The causal chain here includes an additional set of factors not present in the "standard" chain of dependent co-arising.
• Bhumija Sutta — To Bhumija. What is the origin of pleasure and pain? Ven. Sariputta clears up some misconceptions.
• Bhutamidam Sutta — This Has Come Into Being [Nyanaponika | Thanissaro]. What characterizes the difference between a run-of-the-mill person, one who practices the Dhamma, and one who has fully realized the Dhamma?
• Avijjapaccaya Sutta — From Ignorance as a Requisite Condition. Is there someone or something that lies behind the processes described in dependent co-arising?
• Cetana Sutta - The Buddha explains the causal link between mental fabrications and consciousness.
• Loka Sutta - How the world arises and falls according to the law of dependent co-arising.
• Aññatra Sutta - A brahman wonders: When I perform an action (kamma), am I the same person when I experience its results, or am I a different person? The Buddha helps to clear up this man's confused thinking.
• Lokayatika Sutta — The Cosmologist [Thanissaro]. The Oneness of all being is sometimes taught as a basic Buddhist principle, but this discourse shows that the Buddha himself rejected the idea. It is simply one of the extremes that he avoided by teaching dependent co-arising.
• Upadana Sutta — Clinging [Thanissaro]. The Buddha uses a marvelous fire simile to describe the nature of clinging.
• Assutava Sutta — Uninstructed [Thanissaro]. With a striking simile, the Buddha points out the folly of taking this fickle mind to be "self."
• Puttamansa Sutta — A Son's Flesh [Nyanaponika | Thanissaro]. A meditation on inter-relatedness, showing with four striking similes the suffering inherent in everything the body and mind depend upon for nourishment.
• Atthi Raga Sutta — Where There Is Passion [Nyanaponika | Thanissaro]. The Buddha describes four factors to which the mind habitually clings. Those who succeed in abandoning passion for these "nutriments" can realize the cessation of birth, aging, and death.
• Nagara Sutta — The City SuttaReadings.net icon [Thanissaro]. The Buddha retells the story of how, on the eve of his Awakening, he re-discovered the long-forgotten laws of dependent co-arising and the Four Noble Truths.
• Nalakalapiyo Sutta — Sheaves of Reeds [Thanissaro]. In a discussion about dependent co-arising with Ven. Maha Kotthita, Ven. Sariputta invokes a helpful simile to illustrate the relationship between consciousness and name-and-form.
• Kosambi Sutta — At Kosambi (On Knowing Dependent Co-arising)[Thanissaro]. Four good friends share a frank discussion about their grasp of dependent co-arising. One uses a memorable simile to describe the difference between stream-entry and arahatship.
• Susima Sutta — About Susima [Thanissaro]. The Buddha explains to Susima that development of psychic powers is not a prerequisite for enlightenment. (Note, however, that he does not say that jhana is unnecessary.)

13. Abhisamaya-samyutta — Realization

• Nakhasikha Sutta — The Tip of the Fingernail.
• Pokkharani Sutta — The Pond. [Thanissaro].
• Samudda Sutta — The Ocean. [Thanissaro].

These three suttas offer vivid similes that give a sense of how much suffering one totally puts behind oneself upon attaining the stream to Nibbana. Good encouragement for putting some extra effort into the practice.

14. Dhatu-samyutta — Elements 15. Anatamagga-samyutta — The unimaginable beginnings of samsara

• Assu Sutta — Tears [Thanissaro]. "Which is greater, the tears you have shed while transmigrating and wandering this long, long time... or the water in the four great oceans?"
• Danda Sutta — The Stick [Thanissaro]. We bounce from one birth to the next, as a thrown stick bounces along the ground.
• Duggata Sutta — Fallen on Hard Times [Thanissaro]. When you encounter an unfortunate person, remember: you've been there, too.
• Sukhita Sutta — Happy [Thanissaro]. When you encounter a fortunate person, remember: you've been there, too.
• Mata Sutta — Mother [Thanissaro]. It's hard to meet someone who has not been, at some time in the distant past, your mother, father, son, daughter, sister, or brother.

16. Kassapa-samyutta — Ven. Maha Kassapa

• Jinna Sutta — Old [Thanissaro]. Ven. Maha Kassapa explains why he chooses to continue meditating in the forest wilderness even though he has long since attained arahantship.
• Sadhammapatirupaka Sutta — A Counterfeit of the True Dhamma [Thanissaro]. The Buddha issues a warning: a society that fails to show respect for these five things contributes to the eventual decline and disappearance of the Dhamma.

17. Labhasakkara-samyutta — Gains and tribute

• Kumma Sutta — The Turtle [Thanissaro]. Fame and status: like walking around with a harpoon stuck in your back.
• Pilahaka Sutta — The Dung Beetle. [Thanissaro]. Fame and status: like carrying around a ball of dung.
• Sigala Sutta — The Jackal. [Thanissaro]. Fame and status: like being a mangy jackal.

18. Rahula-samyutta — Ven. Rahula 19. Lakkhana-samyutta — Ven. Lakkhana 20. Opamma-samyutta — Comparisons

• Nakhasikha Sutta — The Tip of the Fingernail [Thanissaro]. The Buddha offers a simile for the preciousness of this human birth.
• Okkha Sutta — Serving Dishes.
• Satti Sutta — The Spear [Thanissaro].Two suttas on the extraordinary power of metta (goodwill).
• Dhanuggaha Sutta — The Archer [Thanissaro]. How quickly life passes! Knowing this, how should we live our lives?
• Ani Sutta — The Peg [Thanissaro]. Be careful: there are many popular teachings nowadays that may sound elegant and pleasing to the ear, but they're not necessarily the Buddha's teachings.

21. Bhikkhu-samyutta

• Upatissa Sutta - About Upatissa (Sariputta). Is there anything in the world whose loss would sadden an arahant?
• Theranama Sutta - [A Monk] by the Name of Elder (On Solitude). The Buddha explains to a wandering monk the true meaning of solitude.