Dīgha Nikāya - The long discourses (lectured by ven. Dehipagoda Vijitananda) 2011
The first Piṭaka or division of the Sutta Piṭaka is called 'Dīgha Nikāya' or long length discourses. Generally it is considered to contain longest preachings of the Buddha ever. Dīgha Nikāya consists of 34 suttas and they are divided into 3 main parts as:
1. Sīlakkhanda Vagga
2. Mahā Vagga
3. Pāṭhika Vagga
Sīlakkhanda Vagga consisting of 13 suttas is largest portion of Dīgha Nikāya. It starts with the Brahmajāla Sutta which elaborates contemporary religious sects, philosophy myths and Buddhist moral too. In the wake of Brahmajāla 62 views were arisen in 6th century B.C in India.
More suttas provide some dialogues and agreements of Buddha with great Brāhmaṇas. Ambattha, Pokkharasāti, Soṇadaṅṭa, Tevijja were the Brahmanas who argued with the Buddha. In the matter of caste distinction, we can realize the situation of Brāhmaṇa society and their teachings. Throughout the Sīlakkhanda Vagga all suttas deliver 3 types of moral of a Buddhist monk.
1. Cūla Sīla (small morality or virtue)
2. Majjima Sīla (middle morality)
3. Mahā Sīla (greatest morality)
Sīla (morality), samādhi (concentration) paññā (wisdom) and eight-fold path also appears in every sutta such as Sāmaññaphala Sutta. The great scholar V.P. Bar mentions that only Sāmaññaphala Sutta and Tevijja Sutta can be considered as belonging to the Buddha. According to him, every other sutta belong to a later tradition of Theras.
Kūṭadaṇṭa Sutta gives us some details about the political features. Soṇadaṇḍa Sutta shows some parts of Brahmaṇ society. There were 500 students learning under Soṇadaṇḍa. Pokkharasāti also was in connection with Soṇadaṇḍa. It is very easy to understand a lot about Buddha's great character through those suttas.
Mahā Vagga
The Mahā Vagga contains 10 Suttas. Seven of them start with “mahā” or “great”, as follows:
1. Mahā Nidāna Sutta
2. MahāPadāna Sutta
3. MahāSatipaṭṭhāna Sutta
4. MahāSudassana Sutta
5. MahāGoviṇḍa Sutta
6. Mahā Parinibbāna Sutta
7. Mahā Samaya Sutta
We should examine whether the term “mahā” is given the meaning of “great” in Mahā Vagga. The first Sutta of Mahā Vagga in Dīga Nikaya is “Mahā Padāna”. It deals with some facts on character of former Buddhas. According to this sutta, there were six Buddhas named as Vipassī, Sikhī, Vessabhū, Kakusandha, Kassapa and Gotama. It is very important source to reveal some information on Bodhisatta doctrine in Theravāda tradition.
The Mahānidāna Sutta of Mahāvagga discusses the highest doctrine of Buddhism which is called Paṭiccasamuppāda. Mahā Sudassana Sutta and Mahā Goviṇḍa Sutta shows some features of Jātaka stories. Both suttas contain details about Bodhisatta.
The Mahāsatipaṭṭhāna Sutta gives great doctrine to meditate and to make mind strong. In the Mahāsamaya Sutta, we can see some accounts on gods who came to meet the Buddha. According to that sutta, some gods approached with the intention to show respect to the Buddha. Some gods did not respect to the Buddha.
The Mahāparinibbāna Sutta is very valuable and important sutta to study, not only with regards to the Buddhist doctrine but also to the Buddhist culture. It consists reliable information about the last three months of Buddha’s life. It provides important historical evidence of the great passing away and deliverance of the Buddha’s relics.
There are three suttas different from the other seven. They are called Sakkapañha, Janavasabha and Pāyāsi. The Sakkapañha Sutta contains a dialogue of the Buddha with god. Those stanzas were sung by Pañcasikha speaking about his unsuccessful love.
The Janavasabhasutta explains next existence of king Bimbisāra. He came to meet the Buddha as a deity. The last Sutta is Pāyāsi. That sutta is equal to. Rāyapasenayi Sutta belonging to Jaina texts. That Sutta was preached by Arahant Kumārakassapa to King Pāyāsi.
Pāthika Vagga
The third part of Dīgha Nikāya is called Pāthika Vagga. There are eleven suttas that belong to that portion. Because it starts with the Pātika Sutta, we call that part as pāthikavagga. Aggañña, Cakkavatti Sīhanāda, Siṅgāla, Saṅgīti, and Dasuttara - these important suttas comprise of features of cosmology, Buddhist political views and social views. Especially Saṅgīti and Dasuttara suttas deal with doctrinal teachings. It is common significance of Pāthika Vagga. It is frame of stories. Aggañña Sutta consists of one frame of stories which was more famous during the Buddha's life. It explains the origin of world in the Buddhist view.
Cakkavatti Sīhanāda Sutta is also based on a frame of story. Daḷhanemi was the king in that story. Using that story the Buddha tried to bring to light what is the most appreciable Buddhist method in political area. Dassa Rājadhamma, Satara Saṅgaha Vatthu is revealed by the Buddha in this sutta.
Siṅgāla Sutta is also significant sutta of Pāthika Vagga. It shows the social connection of lay society to Buddha's teachings attempting to give advice on how to be a proper Buddhist lay person. In the sutta the society may be divided into six parts and carrying out duties to those parts is emphasized.
Saṇgīti and Dasuttara suttas follow a systematical way in order to show values of teaching of the Buddha. Those two suttas are similar to Aṅguttara Nikāya. Both used numerical system to explain Dhamma.
