An e-learning online course by Bhikkhu Anālayo
Center for Buddhist Studies
University of Hamburg
“Readings in the Madhyama-āgama” is on online course held every
summer semester by Bhikkhu Anālayo at the Center for Buddhist Studies of
the University of Hamburg. The main purpose of the course is to introduce
central themes of early Buddhist thought from an historical-critical
perspective through the medium of a comparative study of the early discourses.
Extracts from the Madhyama-āgama preserved in Chinese are presented
in English translation and compared with their Pāli counterparts. The
course follows the order of the discourses in the Madhyama-āgama
(MĀ) so as to give the participants an opportunity for a first-hand
impression of this collection, so far not available in translation in any
European language.
The lectures aim at providing those who are relatively new to the early discourses with a first-hand understanding of early Buddhism through textual study of the primary sources. At the same time, the course should also be of interest to those who, being already well familiar with the Pāli canon, are interested in the differences and similarities between the Pāli discourses and parallel versions transmitted by other Buddhist traditions. In the present case, the parallels taken into consideration are from the Madhyama-āgama translated into Chinese towards the end of the 4th century, a collection that with considerable probability stems from a Sarvāstivāda line of transmission.
Although following the lectures requires a basic acquaintance with central ideas of Buddhism, there are no language requirements apart from a reasonable degree of fluency in English. During the course, participants will regularly need to consult the following monograph: Bhikkhu Bodhi (ed.) 2000 (first publ.): The Middle Length Discourses, Boston: Wisdom.
Registration for the course held in the summer semester 2012 has been completed. Besides being held at the University of Hamburg, the course is also part of the MA curriculum at the Sri Lanka International Buddhist Academy and the Sati Institute for Theravāda Studies, California.
Dates: The beginning of the 2012 e-learning course has been adjusted in order to conform better to the semester duration at the above mentioned institutes. The first lecture will be on the 3rd of May at 2.15 CEST, continuing with lectures every Thursday at 2.15 CEST until the 19th of July. Students who have enrolled for the course and received password access to the course site are able to view the lectures in video mode or listen to the audio recordings at any time of convenience during the week that follows the actual lecture, as well as to participate in the discussions that take place on a blog available for participants at the e-learning platform of the University of Hamburg.
Syllabus: The course held in 2012 will proceed through the third and fourth chapter of the Madhyama-āgama. Several discourses in this section of the Madhyama-āgama are related to the topics of "the arahant" and "the four (noble) truths", wherefore these themes that will be taken up for additional examination during the course. The discourses to be studied are as follows:
MĀ 21 Discourse on an Even Mind (等心經)
Pāli Parallel: untitled (AN 2.4.5), PTS ed. AN I 63
view translation of AN 2.4.5 by Hare
MĀ 22 Discourse on Being Accomplished in Virtue (成就戒經)
Pāli Parallel: Discourse on Cessation (AN 5.166), Nirodha-sutta, PTS ed. AN III 192
view translation of AN 5.166 by Hare
MĀ 23 Discourse on Wisdom (智經)
Pāli Parallel: Discourse to Kaḷāra (SN 12.32), Kaḷāra-sutta, PTS ed. SN II 50
please consult translation by Bhikkhu Bodhi (Connected Discourses) pp. 567-571
MĀ 24 Discourse on the Lion's Roar (師子吼經)
Pāli Parallel: Discourse on the Lion's Roar (AN 9.11), Sīhanāda-sutta, PTS ed. AN IV 373
view translation of AN 9.11 by Hare
MĀ 25 Discourse on Water Similes (水喻經)
Pāli Parallel: Second Discourse on Overcoming Aversion (AN 5.162), Dutiya-āghātapaṭivinaya-sutta, PTS ed. AN III 186
view translation of AN 5.162 by Hare
MĀ 26 Discourse on Gulissāni (瞿尼師經)
Pāli Parallel: Discourse on Gulissāni (MN 69), Gulissāni-sutta, PTS ed. MN I 469
please consult translation by Bhikkhu Bodhi (Middle Length Discourses) pp. 572-576
MĀ 27 Discourse to the Brahmin Dhānañjāni (梵志陀然經)
Pāli Parallel: Discourse to Dhānañjāni (MN 97), Dhānañjāni-sutta, PTS ed. MN II 184
please consult translation by Bhikkhu Bodhi (Middle Length Discourses) pp. 791-797
MĀ 28 Discourse on Teaching the Sick (教化病經)
Pāli Parallel: First Discourse on Anāthapiṇḍika (SN 55.26), Paṭhama-Anāthapiṇḍika-sutta, PTS ed. SN V 380
please consult translation by Bhikkhu Bodhi (Connected Discourses) pp. 1816-1819
MĀ 29 Discourse by Mahākoṭṭhita (大拘絺羅經)
Pāli Parallel: Discourse on Right View (MN 9), Sammādiṭṭhi-sutta, PTS ed. MN I 46
please consult translation by Bhikkhu Bodhi (Middle Length Discourses) pp. 132-144
MĀ 30 Discourse on the Simile of the Elephant's Footprint (象跡喻經)
Pāli Parallel: Greater Discourse on the Simile of the Elephant's Footprint (MN 28), Mahāhatthipadopama-sutta, PTS ed. MN I 184
please consult translation by Bhikkhu Bodhi (Middle Length Discourses) pp. 278-285
MĀ 31 Discourse on an Analysis of the Noble Truths (分別聖諦經)
Pāli Parallel: Discourse on an Analysis of the Truths (MN 141), Saccavibhaṅga-sutta, PTS ed. MN III 248
please consult translation by Bhikkhu Bodhi (Middle Length Discourses) pp. 1097-1101
MĀ 32 Discourse on Wonderful and Marvelous Qualities (未曾有法經)
Pāli Parallel: Discourse on the Wonderful and Marvelous (MN 123), Acchariya-abbhūta-sutta, PTS ed. MN III 118
please consult translation by Bhikkhu Bodhi (Middle Length Discourses) pp. 979-984
MĀ 33 Discourse on the Attendant (侍者經)
no Pāli Parallel (cf. Th 1018-1050)
MĀ 34 Discourse by Bakkula (薄拘羅經)
Pāli Parallel: Discourse by Bakkula (MN 124), Bakkula-sutta, PTS ed. MN III 124
please consult translation by Bhikkhu Bodhi (Middle Length Discourses) pp. 985-988
MĀ 35 Discourse to an Asura (阿修羅經)
Pāli Parallel: Discourse to Pahārāda (AN 8.19), Pahārāda-sutta, PTS ed. AN IV 197
view translation of AN 8.19 by Hare
MĀ 36 Discourse on Earthquakes (地動經)
Pāli Parallel: Discourse on Earthquakes (AN 8.70), Bhūmicala-sutta, PTS ed. AN IV 308
view translation of AN 8.70 by Hare
MĀ 37 Discourse at Campā (瞻波經)
Pāli Parallel: Discourse on the Observance Day (AN 8.20), Uposatha-sutta, PTS ed. AN IV 204
view translation of AN 8.20 by Hare
MĀ 38 Discourse by Ugga (1st) (郁伽長者經)
Pāli Parallel: Discourse on Ugga (AN 8.21-22), Ugga-sutta, PTS ed. AN IV 208
view translation of AN 8.21-22 by Hare
MĀ 39 Discourse by Ugga (2nd) (郁伽長者經)
no Pāli Parallel
MĀ 40 Discourse on Hatthaka (1st) (手長者經)
Pāli Parallel: Second Discourse on Hatthaka (AN 8.24), Dutiyahatthaka-sutta, PTS ed. AN IV 218
view translation of AN 8.24 by Hare
MĀ 41 Discourse on Hatthaka (2nd) (手長者經)
Pāli Parallel: First Discourse on Hatthaka (AN 8.23), Paṭhamahatthaka-sutta, PTS ed. AN IV 216
view translation of AN 8.23 by Hare
The lectures held during the summer semester of 2011 covered the first twenty discourses of the Madhyama-āgama. Audio files of the lectures can be audited or downloaded as mp3 files, together with the respective lectures notes as pdfs, at the links given below for each lecture.
Lecture 1 covers the first two discourses, MĀ 1 and MĀ 2:
MĀ 1 Discourse on Wholesome Qualities (善法經)
Pāli Parallel: Discourse on [Being One Who] Knows the Dharma (AN 7.64), Dhammaññū-sutta, PTS ed. AN IV 113
view translation of AN 7.64 by Hare
view translation of AN 7.64 by Bhikkhu Thanissaro
view translation and study of AN 7.64 by Piya Tan
MĀ 2 Discourse on the [Celestial] Coral Tree (晝度樹經)
Pāli Parallel: Discourse on the [Celestial] Coral Tree (AN 7.65), Pāricchattaka-sutta, PTS ed. AN IV 117,
view translation of AN 7.65 by Hare
Lecture 2 covers MĀ 3 and MĀ 4:
MĀ 3 Discourse on the Simile of the [Border] Town (城喻經)
Pāli Parallel: Discourse on the Simile of the Citadel (AN 7.63), Nagaropama-sutta, PTS ed. AN IV 106
view translation of AN 7.63 by Hare
MĀ 4 Discourse on the Water Simile (水喻經)
Pāli Parallel: Discourse on the Water Simile (AN 7.15), Udakūpama-sutta, PTS ed. AN IV 11
view translation of AN 7.15 by Hare
view translation and study of AN 7.15 by Piya Tan
Lecture 3 covers MĀ 5, MĀ 6 and MĀ 7:
MĀ 5
Discourse on the Simile of the Heap of Wood (木積喻經)
Pāli Parallel: Discourse on the Simile of the Heap of Fire (AN 7.68), Aggikkhandhopama-sutta, PTS ed. AN IV 128,
view translation of AN 7.68 by Hare
view translation of AN 7.68 by Bhikkhu Thanissaro
MĀ 6 Discourse on the Destination of a Good Person (善人往經)
Pāli Parallel: Discourse on the Destination of a Person (AN 7.52), Purisagati-sutta, PTS ed. AN IV 70,
view translation of AN 7.52 by Hare
MĀ 7 Discourse on [Sources of] Worldly Merit (世間福經)
no Pāli Parallel
Lecture 4 covers MĀ 8:
MĀ 8 Discourse on Seven Suns (七日經)
Pāli Parallel: Discourse on Seven Suns (AN 7.62), Sattasūriya-sutta, PTS ed. AN IV 100
view translation of AN 7.62 by Hare
Lecture 5
covers MĀ 9:
MĀ 9 Discourse on Seven Chariots (七車經)
Pāli Parallel: Discourse on the Relay of Chariots (MN 24), Rathavinīta-sutta, PTS ed. MN I 145
please consult translation by Bhikkhu Bodhi (Middle Long Discourses) pp. 240-245
A lecture by Bhikkhu Bodhi on the Pāli version can be found here: MN 24
Lecture 6 covers MĀ 10:
MĀ
10 Discourse on the Cessation of the Influxes (漏盡經)
Pāli Parallel: Discourse on All the Influxes (MN 2), Sabbāsava-sutta, PTS ed. MN I 6
please consult translation by Bhikkhu Bodhi (Middle Long Discourses) pp. 91-96
Lectures by Bhikkhu Bodhi on the Pāli version can be found here:
Lecture 7 covers MĀ 11:
MĀ 11 Discourse on the Simile of the
[Grain] of Salt (鹽喻經)
Pāli Parallel: Discourse on the Grain of Salt (AN 3.99), Loṇakaphala-sutta, PTS ed. AN I 249,
view translation of AN 3.99 by Hare
view translation of AN 3.99 by Bhikkhu Thanissaro
view translation and study of AN 3.99 by Piya Tan
Lecture 8 covers MĀ 12, MĀ 13 and MĀ 14:
MĀ 12 Discourse to Vappa (惒破經)
Pāli Parallel: Discourse to Vappa (AN 4.195), Vappa-sutta, PTS ed. AN II 196,
view translation of AN 4.195 by Hare
MĀ 13 The Discourse on [Tenets to be] Transcended (度經)
Pāli Parallel: Discourse on Tenets (AN 3.61), Titthāyatanāni-sutta, PTS ed. AN I 173,
view translation of AN 3.61 by Hare
view translation of AN 3.61 by Bhikkhu Thanissaro
view translation and study of AN 3.61 by Piya Tan
MĀ 14 Discourse to Rāhula (羅云經)
Pāli Parallel: Discourse on an Advice to Rāhula at Ambalaṭṭhikā (MN 61), Ambalaṭṭhikārāhulovāda-sutta, PTS ed. MN I 414,
please consult translation by Bhikkhu Bodhi (Middle Long Discourses) pp. 523-526
A lecture by Bhikkhu Bodhi on the Pāli version can be found here: MN 61
Lecture 9 covers MĀ 15 and MĀ 16:
MĀ 15 Discourse on Intention (思經)
Pāli Parallel: Discourse on the Body Made of Deeds (AN 10.208), Karajakāya-sutta (alternative title in PTS trsl.: The Brahma-moods) PTS ed. AN V 299,
view translation of AN 10.208 by Hare
view translation and study of AN 10.208 by Piya Tan
MĀ 16 Discourse to the Kālāmas (伽藍經)
Pāli Parallel: Kesamutti-sutta (AN 3.65), PTS ed. AN I 188
view translation of AN 3.65 by Hare
view translation of AN 3.65 by Bhikkhu Soma
view translation of AN 3.65 by Bhikkhu Thanissaro
view translation and study of AN 3.65 by Piya Tan
A lecture by Bhikkhu Bodhi on the Pāli version can be found here: AN 3.65
Lecture 10 covers MĀ 17 and MĀ 18:
MĀ 17 Discourse to Gāmaṇi (伽彌尼經)
Pāli Parallel: Asibandhakaputta-sutta, (SN 42.6), (alternative title in PTS ed.: Pacchābhūmako-sutta), PTS ed. SN IV 311,
please consult translation by Bhikkhu Bodhi (Connected Discourses) pp. 1336-8
view translation of SN 42.6 by Bhikkhu Thanissaro
MĀ 18 Discourse to Sīha (師子經)
Pāli Parallel: Sīha-sutta (AN 8.12), PTS ed. AN IV 179,
view translation of AN 8.12 by Hare
Lecture 11 covers MĀ 19 and MĀ 20:
MĀ 19 Discourse on the Nigaṇṭhas (尼乾經)
Pāli Parallel: Devadaha-sutta (MN 101), PTS ed. MN II 214,
please consult translation by Bhikkhu Bodhi (Middle Long Discourses) pp. 827-838
MĀ 20 Discourse to Pāṭaliya (波羅牢經)
Pāli Parallel: Pāṭaliya–sutta, (SN 42.13), PTS ed. SN IV 340,
please consult translation by Bhikkhu Bodhi (Connected Discourses) pp. 1359-1371