Words of the Buddha
Explore the Buddha’s earliest teachings through his words. Access over 1,036 texts with parallel Pāli-English translations and built-in study tools.
Reflection of the Day
“I do not see any other form that so completely obsesses a man’s mind as the form of a woman.”
— AN 1.1 ·

Fire: Investigating Recurrent Experience
The Buddha cast his entire framework of liberation in the language of fire and its cessation. This essay traces that structure using what we now understand about how fire actually works.
Experience is examined starting with the texture of a single moment, to the cascade of experience, across the terrain where consciousness takes root, and to the extinguishing that is Nibbāna.
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Parallel Texts
Read Pāli and English side-by-side or interleaved, with line-by-line fidelity to the source.
Contextual Tooltips
Click any Pāli word or translated term for on-the-spot explanations that deepen understanding.
Bookmarks & Highlights
Save discourses and highlight key passages to build your personal collection of insights.
Discourses by Text Collections
Access over 2,200 discourses, verses, sayings, passages, and utterances from 1,036 texts with parallel Pāli-English translations
| Collection | |
|---|---|
| The Path of Dhamma | 423 verses 100 %
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| As It Was Said | 112 sayings 100 %
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| Inspired Utterances | 80 utterances 100 %
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| Middle Length Discourses | 92 discourses 61 %
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| The Buddha's Ancient Discourses | 42 teachings 59 %
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| Connected Discourses | 497 discourses 17 %
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| Numerical Discourses | 928 discourses 10 %
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| Minor Passages | 7 passages 78 %
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Latest Discourses
View all →The Buddha details twelve causes of ruin to a deity. These downfalls include detesting the Dhamma, extreme pride, laziness, neglecting aging parents, and gambling. A wise person avoids these to reach an auspicious world.
Last updated on April 20, 2026
The Buddha describes seven kinds of persons and likens them to those in water — from those submerged in unwholesomeness to those who cross over fully. They represent the stages from spiritual stagnation to full awakening, including stream-enterers, once-returners, non-returners, and arahants.
Last updated on April 19, 2026
Dhammapada verses 129-145 explore the themes of non-violence, the consequences of harmful actions, and the importance of self-discipline. Through metaphors of a broken gong, a well-trained horse, and skilled artisans, the verses emphasize that true purification comes not from external austerities but from inner restraint, mindfulness, and ethical conduct. The inevitability of death and the suffering caused by harming others are highlighted alongside the rewards of peace and wisdom for those who cultivate virtuous behavior.
Last updated on April 19, 2026
DhammaPada verses 197-208 describe the happiness of those who live without hatred, affliction, and anxiety. It includes poetic verses on happiness and Nibbāna, and emphasizes seeing, dwelling, and association with the wise, Noble Ones.
Last updated on April 19, 2026
Should one aspire for the higher spiritual attainments, one should practice fully in virtue, be devoted to tranquility of mind, not neglect meditation, be endowed with discernment, and practice in an empty dwelling.
Last updated on April 19, 2026
Anthologies
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An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon
In In the Buddha’s Words, Bhikkhu Bodhi curates a rich anthology of discourses drawn from the Pali Canon that capture the full breadth of the Buddha’s teachings. Through these selected suttas, readers explore key themes such as impermanence, not-self, and the path to awakening, revealing how suffering arises and can ultimately be transcended. Each section is introduced with Bhikkhu Bodhi’s insightful commentary, which clarifies the practical application of the Dhamma in daily life. The book’s thematic structure provides a coherent roadmap to the Buddha’s profound insights, emphasizing their timeless relevance in overcoming the human predicament. In essence, In the Buddha’s Words serves as an invaluable guide for anyone seeking a clear and transformative overview of Early Buddhism.
By Bhikkhu Bodhi
The heart essence of the Buddha’s original teachings
In Noble Truths, Noble Path, Bhikkhu Bodhi brings together key suttas from the Saṁyutta Nikāya that illuminate the essence of the Buddha’s teaching - the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. Through these discourses, readers see how suffering arises, why it persists, and how it can be ended, culminating in Nibbāna. Each chapter, introduced by Ven. Bodhi, follows the structure of the Four Noble Truths, offering a clear roadmap to understand and overcome the human predicament. The book emphasizes the universal relevance of the Buddha’s radical insights and guides us toward liberation from the cycle of rebirth, making it an invaluable resource for anyone seeking a concise yet profound overview of Early Buddhism.
By Bhikkhu Bodhi
A daily learning feed of the Buddha’s teachings — learn, reflect, and apply in practice.