Retreat practice

Pañcaverabhayasutta – A person can confidently declare himself to be sotapanna when he has for himself seen the PS cycle along with guarding the moral values

Sotāpattiphalasutta – A short sutta on how to understand sotapattiphala and what brings him there.

Paṭhamasaraṇānisakkasutta In this sutta, Buddha explains that if sal tree can become sotapanna by hearing, why don’t Sarakāni who do not have much faith in Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha cannot? In the next sutta, Buddha explains about bad and good field for the seed to grow. Which means, formerly whatever bad things have happened with the person, if this person were to get Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha at the right moment, he will stop doing bad deeds thus becoming Sotapanna.

Samanupassanāsutta – A short sutta which explains on how one regards these 5 aggregates as self due to ignorance. Once the ignorance is there, the feelings it provides makes one to keep on saying as “I’m”, “I’m this”, “I’ve become that”, “I don’t want to become that or this” and many other variants of I’m.

Khandhasutta This sutta provides clarity on what are 5 aggregates and grasping aggregates. Eventhough, the difference is subtle, but still one can see how defilements come on the surface to make them as grasping instead of seeing as they are.

Khandhasutta An important sutta relating to saddhānusārī and dhammānusārī. Buddha explains that one who has experienced five aggregates would get fruit of stream entry in this life itself

Khajjanīyasutta 5 khandas are afflictions which is very important to understand the five grasping aggregates or khandas.

Upayasutta A very good sutta to see how consciousness or viññāṇaṁ is involved with 5 aggregates, one cannot get release from the suffering or misery. When there is a sprinkle of relishing in consciousness, it would grow, increase, and mature (nandūpasecanaṁ vuddhiṁ 
virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjeyya)

Atthirāgasutta The Buddha defines the four kinds of “food” or “nutriment”, which include edible food, contact, intention, and consciousness, showing how they lead to suffering according to dependent origination.

Samudayasutta A very good sutta that defines four kind of samudaya –  kāya, vedana, citta and dhammā.

Bījasutta Consciousness is like a seed that is planted in the soil of the other four aggregates and watered with craving.

Jīvakasutta This sutta is discussion on whether meat eating is allowed in Buddha sasana or not. Whether the killing of animals is done for the sake of giving to Buddha and his Sangha and knowingly they partake in eating meat which breaks the precepts taken? Then, Buddha explains 3 cases when meat eating is forbidden and when meat eating is allowed

Jhānasutta How to enter jhānas through etan santan, etan panitan

Yamakasutta Venerable Yamaka had the wrong view that one whose defilements have ended is annihilated at death. The monks ask Sāriputta to help, and he asks Yamaka whether a realized one in this very life may be identified as one of the aggregates, or apart from them. Convinced, Yamaka lets go of his view and sees the Dhamma.

Māgaṇḍiyasutta Accused by pleasure-seeking person that the teachings are negative, Buddha recounts the luxury of his upbringing, and his realization of how little value there was in such things. Through renunciation he found a far greater pleasure.

Anupubbavihārasamāpattisutta Nine progressive meditation states are explained in detail on how to achieve them which far exceeds sensual experiences and hence mind gives up sensual.

Mahādukkhakkhandhasutta Challenged to show the difference between his teaching and that of other ascetics, the Buddha points out that they speak of letting go, but do not really understand why. He then explains in great detail the suffering that arises from attachment to sensual stimulation.

Cūḷasuññatasutta Buddha explains on how to achieve amanisikara or removal of whatever is there in the mind and establishing that state which is empty of what was present

Mahātaṇhāsaṅkhayasutta To counter the wrong view that a self-identical consciousness transmigrates from one life to the next, the Buddha teaches dependent origination, showing that consciousness invariably arises dependent on conditions.

Mahāhatthipadopamasutta Everything one should know

Mahāvedallasutta

Cūḷavedallasutta

Āneñjasappāyasutta Beginning with profound meditation absorption, the Buddha goes on to deeper and deeper levels, showing how insight on this basis leads to the detaching of consciousness from any form of rebirth.

Chandasutta – what should one be interested in?

Daṭṭhabbasutta – Each of the five faculties should be seen in a particular set of teachings.

Nibbānasukhasutta – Sāriputta declares that extinguishment is bliss, precisely because nothing is felt there. He explains this apparent paradox with reference to the nine progressive meditations.

Pañcakaṅgasutta – pleasures from senses to 8th jhana and how each one gives much better pleasure than earlier one

Bodhirājakumārasuttaṁ – total journey of Buddha on how he started working till his enlightenment and teachings

Dutiyavibhaṅgasutta – Buddha gives a detailed explanation of each of the five faculties.

Vāseṭṭhasuttaṁ – An important discourse to Vāseṭṭha on what it takes to be a Brahmin and who is not a Brahmin which then traces back to the root word of Brahmin which got lost in transition over the period of time

Paṭhamakathāvatthusuttaṁ – A short and concise sutta on what should be spoken and what should not be spoken

Dīghajāṇusutta – A good sutta to understand on how a lay follower should lead his lay life in terms of accomplishment in initiative, protection, good friendship, and balanced finances

Kassakasutta – Always see the five grasping aggregates along with its consciousness and six sense bases as mara ready to hold the viññana into wrong direction

Paṭiccasamuppādavibhaṅga (Vibh. 6) – A complete exposition of dependent origination which is included in Vibhanga section of Abhidhamma

Satipaṭṭhānavibhaṅgo (Vibh. 7) – A complete exposition of satipatthana which lays down foundation on how one should understand each terms used there

Girimānandasuttaṁ – A practical guide on how to heal oneself through Girimananda sutta while reflecting on ten perceptions or sañña correctly

Pāyāsisutta – An important sutta which explains on wrong view relating to next life, heavenly existences, hell existences etc., which Pāyāsi has.

Siṅgālasutta – A good sutta which explains on what a lay follower should do in respecting his dead parents, how to establish morality etc.,

Kammanirodhasutta – This sutta explain on old action, new action, coming out of action and method used to come out of it as in four noble truth

Aṭṭhasatasutta – This sutta talks of 108 feelings which has to be properly understood

Cūḷakammavibhaṅgasutta – A good sutta to understand on why a person is born in good environment while another is born in bad environment, how one is out of diseases and why another is with diseases etc.,

paccayasutta – Very important sutta to understand dependent origination and things that are dependent upon

Pattakammasuttaṁ – An important sutta which explains on how a householder should do his kamma for the entire life in order to get whatever he is wishing for now and for future

Meghiyasutta – in this sutta, Buddha explains about having good friends, companions, and associates. (kalyāṇamitto hoti kalyāṇasahāyo kalyāṇasampavaṅko). And like that he explains in steps each one of the aspect that has to be cultivated in order to stay aloof in a place and making the place fit for meditation

Indriyabhāvanāsutta – in this sutta, Buddha explains on how to meditate on guarding the senses, how a Sotapanna would do and how an Arahat would do. The message we can see is that all the 3 accomplishments ie., Sotapanna, Sakadagami and Anāgami has same state as in Sotapanna with reference to guarding the sense doors

Kīṭāgirisutta In this sutta, Buddha explains on why one should not eat in the night or at wrong time, Buddha then explains on how each feelings has to be seen which makes either unskillful to grow or skillful to grow and what has to be discerned eventhough the person who is following Buddha advice has not seen it as Buddha did.
Then he explains about 7 people found in this world which is the key point of this sutta which inturn helps in becoming an Arahat in this life or an Anāgami for sure.

Tamotamasutta A very nice sutta that explains four type of people found in this world. They are:
1. The dark bound for darkness
2. the dark bound for light
3. the light bound for darkness, and
4. the light bound for light

Sampasādanīyasutta Another important sutta that is explained by Sariputta on why one should have confidence in Buddha teachings. These are divided into below categories:
Kusaladhammadesanā, Āyatanapaṇṇattidesanā, Gabbhāvakkantidesanā,  Ādesanavidhādesanā, Dassanasamāpattidesanā, Puggalapaṇṇattidesanā, Padhānadesanā, Paṭipadādesanā, Bhassasamācārādidesanā, Anusāsanavidhādesanā, Parapuggalavimuttiñāṇadesanā, Sassatavādadesanā, Pubbenivāsānussatiñāṇadesanā, Cutūpapātañāṇadesanā, Iddhividhadesanā, Aññathāsatthuguṇadassana, Anuyogadānappakāra,

Dutiyayodhājīvasutta A very nice sutta which explains sensual pleasures in 10 drawback ways as in:

1. Sense-desires are likened to a bone because of scanty yield of pleasure;
2. sense-desires are likened to a piece of flesh because they are followed by many (sufferings);
3. sense-desires are likened to a (flaming) torch carried against the wind because they burn;
4. sense-desires are likened to a pit of glowing embers because of the great and the small fit fires ready to burn
5. sense-desires are likened to a dream because they vanish quickly;
6. sense-desires are likened to borrowed goods because they cannot be enjoyed long;
7. sense-desires are likened to a fruit tree because they are chopped down by others;
8. sense-desires are likened to a sword because they cut;
9. sense-desires are likened to a pointed stake because they impale as a sharp instrument with deep pain
10. sense-desires are likened to the head of a venomous snake because they are fearful;
11. sense-desirs are likened to a flock of cotton blown by the wind because they are unresisting by nature;
12. sense-desires are likened to a mirage because they bewilder the fool;
13. sense-desires are likened to darkness because they are blinding;
14. sense-desires are likened to hindrances because they obstruct the way of good;
15. sense-desires are likened to infatuation because they cause the loss of right mindfulness;
16. sense-desires are likened to ripening because they are subject to decay; 17. sense-desires are likened to fetters because they bind one to another;
18. sense-desires are likened (to thieves) because they rob the value of merit;
19. sense-desires are likened to a house of hate because they provoke quarrels;
20. and sense-desires are pain-laden because they cause trials innumerable. Having considered the tribulations of sense-desires, in this manner, he should consider the benefits of renunciation.

Cūḷakammavibhaṅgasutta A good sutta for reflection on how good or bad deeds give rise to short life and long life, sickly and healthy, ugly and beautiful, insignificant and illustrious, poor and rich, from low and eminent families, witless and wise and inferior or superior

Samiddhisutta This sutta is a discussion between Ven.Samiddhi and Ven.Sariputta on how does thoughts come to be and what is it’s basis

Manasikārasutta In this sutta Ananda asks a question to Buddha whether below mentioned would not be perceived and yet not perceived?
Siyā nu kho, bhante, bhikkhuno tathārūpo samādhipaṭilābho yathā na cakkhuṁ manasi kareyya, na rūpaṁ manasi kareyya, na sotaṁ manasi kareyya, na saddaṁ manasi kareyya, na ghānaṁ manasi kareyya, na gandhaṁ manasi kareyya, na jivhaṁ manasi kareyya, na rasaṁ manasi kareyya, na kāyaṁ manasi kareyya, na phoṭṭhabbaṁ manasi kareyya, na pathaviṁ manasi kareyya, na āpaṁ manasi kareyya, na tejaṁ manasi kareyya, na vāyaṁ manasi kareyya, na ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ manasi kareyya, na viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ manasi kareyya, na ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ manasi kareyya, na nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ manasi kareyya, na idhalokaṁ manasi kareyya, na paralokaṁ manasi kareyya, yampidaṁ diṭṭhaṁ sutaṁ mutaṁ viññātaṁ pattaṁ pariyesitaṁ anuvicaritaṁ manasā, tampi na manasi kareyya
Buddha answers in affirmative that this stage is possible and when then happens, one experiences etaṁ santaṁ etaṁ paṇītaṁ, yadidaṁ 
sabbasaṅkhārasamatho sabbūpadhipaṭinissaggo taṇhākkhayo virāgo 
nirodho nibbānan’ti.

Saññāsutta This sutta is previous to Manasikarasutta indicated above wherein Ananda poses the same question through ways of perception and Buddha answers in the affirmative. After taking leave from Buddha, Ānanda visits Sariputta with the same question and Sariputta answers in the same manner which makes Ānanda thrilled that there is no difference between teacher and student in terms of grammar, prose and style of explanation.

Dakkhiṇāvibhaṅgasutta A very nice sutta explaining in detail about how the donation or offering has to be given from a normal worldling to an Arhat and to a Samma Sambuddha. This details out every aspect of religious donation that is suitable and how it should be done.

Sīhasutta A very good sutta which explains Buddha’s doctrine in following ways:
1. Akiriyavāda – immoral deeds
2. Kiriyavāda – moral deeds
3. ucchedavāda – raga, dvesha, moha
4. jeguccha – kāyaduccaritena vacīduccaritena manoduccaritena;
5. venayika – vinayāya dhammaṁ desemi rāgassa dosassa mohassa;
6. tapassī – pāpake akusale dhamme vadāmi 
kāyaduccaritaṁ vacīduccaritaṁ manoduccaritaṁ.
7. apagabbha – āyatiṁ gabbhaseyyā punabbhavābhinibbatti pahīnā 
ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā, tamahaṁ ‘apagabbho’ti vadāmi.
8. assāsaka – ssāsako paramena assāsena, assāsāya dhammaṁ 
desemi, tena ca sāvake vinemi.

Pāthikasutta In this sutta, Buddha explains about the psychic power, the origin (agañña = foremost) of the world where an empty Brahma mansion appears and the being enters there who considers himself to be all knower, all creator and isvara or overlord and maker of all beings. How each beings start to worship the one who came first and then each one in their appearance and how the concept of God appears first. This is also covered in Brahmajala sutta (DN1)

Siṅgālasutta In this sutta, Buddha explains about how one should revere in each direction, then about selecting friends and companions, corrupt deeds, four grounds of doing bad deeds, what drains off wealth, drawback of drinking, roaming streets in night hours, drawbacks of celebrating festivals, drawbacks of gambling, drawbacks of bad friendship, drawback of laziness, who are the good friends and what are the six directions,

Rathopamasutta In this sutta, Buddha covers 3 important points
1. Closing the sense doors from outside influence
2. What is meant by moderate in eating
3. What is meant by moderation in sleeping
A very important sutta for lay and monks