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Expert: - 12/1/2011


Question
Hi,

Ajahn Brahmali said in a discourse that the Buddha did not have the time to say everything that is written in the Tipitaka. And he also said what are the suttas to read from the Tipitaka which are more likely to be the Buddhas words, but I did not quite understand their names.
Can you please tell me the names of these suttas so I can read them?
I think he said 4 suttas.

Thank you very much!

Answer
Hi Liviu,

The Buddha preached for 45 years.  I would say given this length of time he would be able to say all that were recorded in the Tipitakka.  Whether all that were recorded in the Tipitakka were his own words is another matter.

My choice of the more important suttas are as below:

1. Mangala Sutta @
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/khp/khp.5.nara.html

2. Karaniya Metta Sutta @
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/snp/snp.1.08.than.html

3. The Kalama Sutta @
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an03/an03.065.than.html

A Look at the Kalama Sutta
by Bhikkhu Bodhi @
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/kalama1_l.htm

4. Sigalovada Sutta @
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.31.0.nara.html

5. the "Big Three" of the Sutta Pitaka
Setting the Wheel of Dhamma in Motion (SN 56.11), The Discourse on the Not-self Characteristic (SN 22.59), and The Fire Sermon (SN 35.28). @
Befriending the Suttas
Tips on Reading the Pali Discourses
by John T. Bullitt @
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/bullitt/befriending.html

Hope this helps.

Take care.

Justin Choo  

Buddhists

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Justin Choo

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When in doubt seek it out. All your questions will be answered, and you may not have to agree with the answers. Such is the beauty of Buddhism. You are free to decide. I follow the Theravada tradition, and have been studying Buddhism for more than 40 years. Please view my profile for more details. I have answered more than 1500 questions since joining this category. You may like to give me the honor to answer your question.

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I was brought up in the 50's as a Buddhist. For the past 40 years I have read numerous books on Buddhism and listened to numerous talks on Buddhism by well-respected and learned monks and lay teachers. I conduct Buddhist classes for parents of Sunday School children in a Theravada Buddhist Temple. My teacher was the late Chief Reverend, The Ven. K Sri Dhammananda of The Brickfields Buddhist Mahavihara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. You can view the relevent website in memory of my revered late teacher @ http://www.ksridhammananda.com

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I am a life member of the Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia.

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YOU ARE INVITED TO VISIT MY BLOG @ http://lifeislikethat999.blogspot.com/ Published a book called "The Rainbow And The Treasure". It is a compilation of extracts from various sources to introduce Buddhism to beginners. (Currently out of print)

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Bachelor of Commerce And Administration, Victoria University Of Wellington, NZ.(1974)

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