Several months after his Awakening, the Buddha delivers this sermon to an audience of 1,000 fire-worshipping ascetics. In his characteristically brilliant teaching style, the Buddha uses a metaphor that quickly penetrates to the heart of the audience — in this case, the metaphor of fire. Upon hearing this sermon, the entire audience attains full Awakening (arahatta).

Listen to this sutta read by Bhante H. Gunaratana (08'37" 2.9 MB)

Recorded in October 2005 at the Bhavana Society, High View, West Virginia, USA. Translated from the Pali by Bhante H. Gunaratana. From Bhavana Vandana: Book of Devotion (High View, WV: »Bhavana Society, 1990). Text is copyright © 1990 Bhavana Society. Courtesy of, and with permission from, Bhavana Society, Rt. 1, Box 218-3, Back Creek Road, High View, WV 26808 USA, »www.bhavanasociety.org.

What one thing should a person hold onto in order to cross the flood of birth and old age, sorrow, and grief?

Listen to this sutta read by Ajahn Sucitto (03'11" 1.1 MB)

Recorded by jtb on 4 July 2006 in Concord, Massachusetts. Translated from the Pali by H. Saddhatissa. From The Sutta Nipata (London: »Curzon Press, Ltd., 1985). Text is copyright © 1985 H. Saddhatissa. Permission pending.

How does one cross the flood of birth and old age, sorrow, and grief?

Listen to this sutta read by Ajahn Sucitto (04'41" 1.6 MB)

Recorded by jtb on 4 July 2006 in Concord, Massachusetts. Translated from the Pali by H. Saddhatissa. From The Sutta Nipata (London: »Curzon Press, Ltd., 1985). Text is copyright © 1985 H. Saddhatissa. Permission pending.

The Buddha traces the cause of all our suffering: the mental quality of intention.

Listen to this sutta read by Ajahn Sucitto (02'38" 0.9 MB)

Recorded by jtb on 4 July 2006 in Concord, Massachusetts. Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi. From »The Connected Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Samyutta Nikaya, Bhikkhu Bodhi, trans. (Somerville: »Wisdom Publications, 2000). Text is copyright © 2000 Wisdom Publications. Courtesy of, and with permission from, Wisdom Publications, 199 Elm Street, Somerville, MA 02144 USA, »www.wisdompubs.org.

Good qualities in the heart naturally lead to the development of other good qualities. And it all starts with sila (virtue).

Listen to this sutta read by Ajahn Sucitto (04'58" 1.7 MB)

Recorded by jtb on 4 July 2006 in Concord, Massachusetts. Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. From »Handful of Leaves, Volume Three: An Anthology from the Khuddaka Nikaya, Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans. and ed. Text is copyright © 2005 Thanissaro Bhikkhu. #PERMISSION#

The Buddha admonishes his son, the novice Rahula, on the dangers of lying and stresses the importance of constant reflection on one's motives.

Listen to this sutta read by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (11'29" 3.9 MB)

Recorded by the reader in Spring 2006 at Metta Forest Monastery, USA. Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. From »Handful of Leaves, Volume One: An Anthology from the Digha and Majjhima Nikayas, Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans. and ed. Text is copyright © 2006 Thanissaro Bhikkhu.

The Budda answers a series of questions on the causes of anger and attachment.

Listen to this sutta read by Sister Cittapala (06'13" 2.1 MB)

Recorded by jtb on 17 May 2006 in Lexington, Massachusetts, USA. Translated from the Pali by H. Saddhatissa. From The Sutta Nipata (London: »Curzon Press, Ltd., 1985). Text is copyright © 1985 H. Saddhatissa. Permission pending

Which is correct: by protecting oneself, one protects others; or by protecting others, one protects oneself? The Buddha's answer may surprise you.

Listen to this sutta read by Ajahn Candasiri (03'18" 1.1 MB)

Recorded by jtb on 17 May 2006 in Lexington, Massachusetts, USA. Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi. From »In the Buddha's Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon, Bhikkhu Bodhi, trans. and ed. (Somerville: »Wisdom Publications, 2005). Text is copyright © 2000 Bhikkhu Bodhi. Courtesy of, and with permission from, Wisdom Publications, 199 Elm Street, Somerville, MA 02144 USA, »www.wisdompubs.org.

The Buddha delivers meditation instructions to his son, the novice Rahula.

Listen to this sutta read by Ajahn Candasiri (19'50" 6.8 MB)

Recorded by jtb on 17 May 2006 in Lexington, Massachusetts, USA. Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Ñanamoli and Bhikkhu Bodhi. From »The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha (Somerville: »Wisdom Publications, 1995). Text is copyright © 1995 Wisdom Publications. Courtesy of, and with permission from, Wisdom Publications, 199 Elm Street, Somerville, MA 02144 USA, »www.wisdompubs.org.

The ten armies of Mara approach the Bodhisatta (Buddha-to-be) in an unsuccessful attempt to lure him from his meditation seat.

Listen to this sutta read by Ajahn Candasiri (05'23" 1.9 MB)

Recorded by jtb on 17 May 2006 in Lexington, Massachusetts, USA. Translated from the Pali by H. Saddhatissa. From The Sutta Nipata (London: »Curzon Press, Ltd., 1985). Text is copyright © 1985 H. Saddhatissa. Permission pending.

King Bimbisara, struck by the young Buddha's radiant demeanor, follows him to the mountains to discover who he is and whence he comes.

Listen to this sutta read by Ajahn Candasiri (04'38" 1.6 MB)

Recorded by jtb on 17 May 2006 in Lexington, Massachusetts, USA. Translated from the Pali by H. Saddhatissa. From The Sutta Nipata (London: »Curzon Press, Ltd., 1985). Text is copyright © 1985 H. Saddhatissa. Permission pending.