Where to Start with the Tipitaka

[Pompeii]

First, I promise that I did a search for this very topic to try to avoid any redundancy, but I didn't find anything this specific.

I am ready to dive into some "source material" in my study. I want to know where I should start on these suttas. I know Access to Insight has many of them, so it's no trouble finding them. The immensity is intimidating to say the least. Why not just start at the beginning? I was really wanting to look at the ones that you might consider the "highlights" first, if possible. Outside of that, I understand that the first part is really directed toward the monastic life, anyway. I'm nowhere near being a monk.

Could you suggest a place to dig in? What are some of the more popular suttas?

Thanks in advance.

[nibbuti]

Hi Pompeii. There are the Nikayas or collections. The Majjhima collection has some of the widest and deepest teachings. It can be a little rough at first but will be clear as daylight. It is recommended to study one sutta as a prequel to each meditation, for the full effect.

Good luck.

[Element]

hello Pompeii

the place to start is 1st three sermons of Buddha

1. Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta: Setting Rolling the Wheel of Truth (plus 1a. Analysis of the Path)

2. Anatta-lakkhana Sutta: The Discourse on the Not-self Characteristic

3. Adittapariyaya Sutta: The Fire Sermon

for laypeople in everyday life, the most comprehensive teachings are:

4. Maha-mangala Sutta: Blessings

5. Sigalovada Sutta: The Discourse to Sigala: The Layperson's Code of Discipline

6. S 55.7 Veludvareyya Sutta The Golden Rule/How to practice the 5 Precepts

the most widely read collection is:

7. Dhammapada (Buddharakkhita)

the above are ample for beginning to study the original teachings of Buddha

kind regards

[Pompeii]

Thank you very much. I will start on your suggestions very soon.

[Element]

What are some of the more popular suttas?

Pompeii

I personally like these from the Majjhima Nikaya

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....009.ntbb.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....019.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit...021x.budd.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....022.nypo.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....026.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....030.than.html
http://www.dhammatalks.net/Books9/Bh...haya_Sutta.htm
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....038.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....043.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....044.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....061.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....062.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....082.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....086.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....087.than.html
http://www.palicanon.org/en/sutta-pi...-elements.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....117.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....118.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....121.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....131.nana.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....140.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....143.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....147.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....148.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....149.than.html

regards

[Element]

I personally like these from the Samyutta Nikaya

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....025.wlsh.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....010.bodh.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....002.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....012.nypo.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....015.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....020.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....023.bodh.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....044.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....061.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....063.nypo.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....070.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....001.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....003.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....007.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....001.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....048.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....053.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....079.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....081.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....085.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit...087x.wlsh.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....095.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....099.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....002.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....001.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....009.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....010.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....085.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....101.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....165.wlsh.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....055.wlsh.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....019.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....020.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....010.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....008.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....031.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit...-113.than.html

[Element]

I personally like these from the Anguttara Nikaya

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....049.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....009.irel.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....019.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....023.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....025.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....061.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....065.soma.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....134.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....041.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....055.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....062.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....057.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....019.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....020.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....055.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....063.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....011.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....006.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....015.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....058.than.html (translation is incorrect; as previous sutta, 'skillful qualities', not 'phenomena')
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....048.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....002.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....016.piya.html

[Element]

other collections

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit...1.01.irel.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit...1.02.irel.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit...1.03.irel.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit...1.10.irel.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit...8.03.irel.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit...8.04.irel.html

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit...l.html#iti-044
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit...l.html#iti-049
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit...l.html#iti-106

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit...1.08.amar.html

[Element]

Thank you very much. I will start on your suggestions very soon.

You're welcome. Pompeii

The 1st three sermons contain the totality of Buddha's teachings. Other teachings found in the suttas are extensions of the 1st three sermons. For example, Dependent Origination is a more detailed explanation of the Four Noble Truths. Emptiness is a more emphatic description of Not-Self.

Kind regards

[Element]

Another list:

Basic suttas:

Three Cardinal Discourses of the Buddha
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/a.../wheel017.html

Dhammapada
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit...ntro.budd.html

***

For laylife:

Sigalovada Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit...31.0.nara.html

Samajivina Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....055.than.html

Anana Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....062.than.html

Maha-mangala Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit...2.04.piya.html

Upajjhatthana Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....057.than.html

S 55.7 Veludvareyya Sutta The Golden Rule/How to practice the 5 Precepts

browse through the Anguttara Nikaya
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/index.html

***

Eightfold path:

Saccavibhanga Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....141.than.html

Maha-cattarisaka Sutta: The Great Forty
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....117.than.html

Three characteristics & emptiness:

Anatta-lakkhana Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....059.mend.html

Dhamma-niyama Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....134.than.html

Na Tumhaka Sutta: Not Yours
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....101.than.html

Suñña Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....085.than.html

Phena Sutta: Foam
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....095.than.html

Ani Sutta: The Peg
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....007.than.html

***

Five aggregates:

Khandha Sutta: Aggregates
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....048.than.html

Khajjaniya Sutta: Chewed Up
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....079.than.html

***

Sense spheres & dependent origination:

Madhupindika Sutta: The Ball of Honey
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....018.than.html

Chachakka Sutta: The Six Sextets
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....148.than.html

Paticca-samuppada-vibhanga Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....002.than.html

Upanisa Sutta: Discourse on Supporting Conditions
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....023.bodh.html

Kaccayanagotta Sutta [this served as the basis for Nagarjuna's teachings]
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....015.than.html

Parileyyaka Sutta [clearly explains how the "I" assumption arises in Dependent Origination]
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....081.than.html

Loka Sutta: The World
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....044.than.html

Nakulapita Sutta: To Nakulapita
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....001.than.html

Upaadaaparitassanaa Sutta: Grasping and Worry
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....007.wlsh.html

Upaya Sutta: Attached
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....053.than.html

Mahàtanhàsankhaya Sutta
http://www.buddhistelibrary.org/cpg1...hasankhaya.pdf


***

Meditation:

Dvedhavitakka Sutta: Two Sorts of Thinking
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....019.than.html

Vitakkasanthana Sutta: The Relaxation of Thoughts
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....020.than.html

Maha-Rahulovada Sutta: The Greater Exhortation to Rahula
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....062.than.html

Bhaddekaratta Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....131.than.html

Anapanasati Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....118.than.html

Samadhi Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....041.than.html

Indriya-vibhanga Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....010.than.html

***

Buddha's life:

Ariyapariyesana Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....026.than.html

Maha-parinibbana Sutta: Last Days of the Buddha
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....1-6.vaji.html

***

Gradual training:

Maha-Assapura Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....039.than.html