The Sutta Nipata ("The Sutta Collection"), the fifth book of the Khuddaka Nikaya, consists of 71 short suttas divided into five vaggas (chapters).
A useful printed translation of the complete Sutta Nipata is K.R. Norman's The Group of Discourses (2nd ed.) (Oxford: Pali Text Society, 2001). Excerpts from the Sutta Nipata also appear in Handful of Leaves (Vol. 4), Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans. (available from Metta Forest Monastery). Another popular (though occasionally inaccurate) translation is H. Saddhatissa's The Sutta-Nipata (London: Curzon Press, 1985). Some of the passages listed below originally appeared in John Ireland's The Discourse Collection: Selected Texts from the Sutta Nipata, (BPS "Wheel" Publication No. 82).
The braces {} contain the corresponding verse numbers in the original Pali text, as listed in H. Saddhatissa's The Sutta-Nipata (London: Curzon Press, 1985).
See The Parayanavagga — The Chapter on the Way to the Far Shore: An Introduction, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
- Sn 5.1: Ajita-manava-puccha — Ajita's Questions
{Sn 1032-1039}
[Ireland | Thanissaro].
The Buddha summarizes the essence of Dhamma training: "Not craving for sensual pleasures, and with a mind that is pure and tranquil."
- Sn 5.2: Tissa-metteyya-manava-puccha — Tissa-metteyya's Questions
{Sn 1040-1042}
[Thanissaro].
Who in the world is truly contented, truly free, truly a great person?
- Sn 5.3: Punnaka-manava-puccha — Punnaka's Questions
{Sn 1043-1048}
[Ireland | Thanissaro].
The Buddha explains that birth and aging can never be transcended by performing hopeful rituals, but only by extinguishing the fires of greed, hatred, and delusion.
- Sn 5.4: Mettagu-manava-puccha — Mettagu's Questions
{Sn 1049-1060}
[Ireland | Thanissaro].
How does one cross the flood of birth and old age, sorrow and grief?
- Sn 5.5: Dhotaka-manava-puccha — Dhotaka's Questions
{Sn 1061-1068}
[Thanissaro].
How can one become freed of all doubt?
- Sn 5.6: Upasiva-manava-puccha — Upasiva's Questions
{Sn 1069-1076}
[Thanissaro].
What support should one hold on to in order to cross over the raging flood of craving?
- Sn 5.7: Nanda-manava-puccha — Nanda's Questions
{Sn 1077-1083}
[Thanissaro].
Who, exactly, deserves to be called "wise"?
- Sn 5.8: Hemaka-manava-puccha — Hemaka's Question
{Sn 1084-1087}
[Thanissaro].
How can we demolish craving and free ourselves from entanglement with the world?
- Sn 5.9: Todeyya-manava-puccha — Todeyya's Questions
{Sn 1088-1091}
[Thanissaro].
So — what's it like, being emancipated, anyway?
- Sn 5.10: Kappa-manava-puccha — Kappa's Question
{Sn 1092-1095}
[Thanissaro].
Is there anywhere safe to stand where we won't be swept away by aging and death?
- Sn 5.11: Jatukanni-manava-puccha — Jatukannin's Question
{Sn 1096-1100}
[Thanissaro].
How does one abandon birth and aging?
- Sn 5.12: Bhadravudha-manava-puccha — Bhadravudha's Questions
{Sn 1101-1104}
[Thanissaro].
Bhadravudha asks of the Buddha: How did you come to know the Dhamma?
- Sn 5.13: Udaya-manava-puccha — Udaya's Questions
{Sn 1105-1111}
[Thanissaro].
In what way should one live mindfully, so as to bring about Awakening?
- Sn 5.14: Posala-manava-puccha — Posala's Questions
{Sn 1112-1115}
[Thanissaro].
How does one develop insight after mastering the higher levels of jhana?
- Sn 5.15: Mogharaja-manava-puccha — Mogharaja's Question
{Sn 1116-1119}
[Ireland | Thanissaro].
How should one view the world so as to escape Death's grasp?
- Sn 5.16: Pingiya-manava-puccha — Pingiya's Question
{Sn 1120-1123}
[Ireland | Thanissaro].
Alarmed by the deterioration of his aging body, Pingiya asks the Buddha how to conquer birth and decay.