Majjhima Nikāya - Book II Part 2

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II. Bhikkhu Vagga

1. Ambalaṭṭhikarāhulovāda Sutta

In this discourse, given at Rājagaha, the Buddha exhorted his son Rāhula, a sāmaṇera aged seven, on the necessity of observing the fundamental moral precept of truthfulness, and of practising mindfulness,

by giving the similes of the upturned water pot, the royal elephant and the mirror.

2. Mahārāhulovāda Sutta

This discourse on the five khandhas was given at Sāvatthi by the Buddha to Rāhula at the age of eighteen. The Venerable Sāriputta also taught Rāhula the meditation on Ānāpāna.

The Buddha further explained to him the advantages of Ānāpāna meditation and gave him another discourse on the four great elements.

3. Cūḷamālukya Sutta

This discourse was given at Sāvatthi to the bhikkhu Mālukya.

Bhikkhu Mālukya interrupted his meditation one afternoon, went to the Buddha and asked him the well-known classical questions:

Is the universe eternal or not etc.; is the soul the same as the body, is soul one thing and body another, etc.; does life exist after death, or does it not exist after death.

The Buddha explained to him that the practice of the holy life did not depend upon these views. Whatever view one may hold about them, there would still be birth, ageing, decay, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, distress.

The Buddha said that he taught only about dukkha, the cause of dukkha, the cessation of dukkha and the way leading to the cessation of dukkha.

4. Mahāmālukya Sutta

This discourse was given to bhikkhu Mālukya at Sāvatthi to explain the five fetters, namely, personality belief, doubt, attachment to wrong practice, sensual desires and ill will, which lead beings to lower destinations.

5. Bhaddāli Sutta

This discourse, given at Sāvatthi, is an exhortation to bhikkhu Bhaddāli who refused to obey the disciplinary rule of not eating after midday and in the evening;

the Buddha explained why bhikkhus in the Teaching should respect the disciplinary rules laid down by him.

6. Laṭukikopama Sutta

This discourse was given to the Venerable Udāyi in connection with observance of disciplinary rules and precepts:

When the five strengths(balas), namely: faith, energy, mindfulness, concentration and insight are not well developed,

the bhikkhu finds even a paltry restraint like refraining from eating meals in the afternoon and in the evening very irksome and onerous.

But when the five Balas are fully developed, even stringent rules can be observed without any difficulty or discomfort.

7. Cātuma Sutta

This discourse was given at Cātuma to the disciples of the Venerable Sāriputta and the Venerable Mahā Moggallāna, who came with five hundred bhikkhus to see the Buddha.

The five hundred bhikkhus made a lot of noise while settling down. The Buddha refused to see them at first, but later relented and taught them the dangers in the life of a bhikkhu.

Just as there are dangers and hazards in a sea like stormy waves, crocodiles, whirlpools, and sharks, so also there are dangers against which the bhikkhu must be always on guard, namely:

ill will against those who instruct them and guide them; dissatisfaction with training rules such as those concerning taking of meals or dealing with womenfolk; and pleasures of senses.

8. Naḷakapāna Sutta

This discourse was given to the Venerable Anuruddha and to the villagers of Naḷakapāna to explain that unless a bhikkhu had attained the higher stages of Magga and Phala,

accomplishments in supernormal psychic powers may prove to be harmful to him.

The Buddha himself talked about the destinations of the departed persons not to earn praise and admiration but to arouse enthusiasm and faith in his disciples.

9. Goliyāni Sutta

This discourse was given at Rājagaha by the Venerable Sāriputta to Goliyāni Bhikkhu concerning eighteen dhammas which a forest dwelling bhikkhu should observe.

10. Kīṭāgiri Sutta

This discourse was given at the market town of Kīṭāgiri on the advantages of taking meals only before noon and the disadvantages of eating in the evening.