The Word of the Buddha, compiled by Ñāṇatiloka Mahāthera, sets the teaching out in the Buddha’s own words and arranges it inside the four noble truths. The first edition appeared in German in 1906. The sections below follow the Buddhist Publication Society English edition, as one exposition aimed at deliverance from suffering.

It is a first map for someone new to the teachings, and a short summary for someone who already knows them. The passages are drawn from the five collections.

Each section below opens on its own page, in the order of the book. A citation opens that discourse at the paragraphs quoted there.

The reading opens with the threefold refuge and the five precepts.

Contents

Paragraph map

Where each discourse is quoted, with the paragraph numbers on its page. “Whole discourse” marks a citation of the discourse in full.

Discourse	Paragraphs	Where it is used
KP 1	whole discourse	Introduction
DN 1	83	Right Understanding / Wrong Understanding
DN 15	90–91	Right Understanding / Views and Discussions about the Ego
DN 16	130, 471, 193	The Four Noble Truths; Right Understanding / How Right Understanding Is Known; Right Concentration / The True Goal
DN 22	108–120, 121–122, 125–136, 139, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157	I. The Noble Truth of Suffering; I. The Noble Truth of Suffering / The Five Groups of Existence; II. The Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering / The Origin of Craving; III. The Noble Truth of the Extinction of Suffering; Right Understan…
MN 2	7, 12, 13	Right Understanding / Unwise Considerations; Right Understanding / The Six Views about the Self; Right Understanding / The Two Extremes and the Middle Doctrine; Right Understanding / Wise Considerations
MN 9	8	Right Understanding / Understanding Merit and Demerit
MN 10	3–4, 6–14, 16–18, 20–22, 24–28, 30–34, 36–48, 51–62, 64–67, 69–77, 93–102, 79–81, 83–91, 104–107, 107, 112	Right Mindfulness / The Four Foundations of Mindfulness; Contemplation of the Body / Mindfulness of Breathing; Contemplation of the Body / The Four Postures; Contemplation of the Body / Clear Comprehension; Contemplation of the Body / Th…
MN 13	11–14	Karma / Present Karma-Results
MN 20	4–13	Right Effort / The Effort to Overcome
MN 21	68	Right Speech / Abstaining from Harsh Language
MN 22	62, 99	Right Understanding / The Two Extremes and the Middle Doctrine; Right Understanding / The Sotāpanna, or Stream-Enterer
MN 26	53, 97, 52	The Four Noble Truths; IV. The Path that Leads to the Extinction of Suffering; Right Concentration / Nibbāna; Gradual Development of the Eightfold Path / Nibbāna
MN 27	44–47, 29, 30, 31, 39, 40, 41, 42–43	Right Concentration / The Four Absorptions; Gradual Development of the Eightfold Path / The Arising of a Buddha; Gradual Development of the Eightfold Path / Confidence and Right Thought; Gradual Development of the Eightfold Path / Morali…
MN 28	6–7, 28–30, 31	The Five Groups of Existence / The Group of Corporeality; The Group of Consciousness / Dependent Origination of Consciousness; Right Understanding / Dependent Origination
MN 29	17	Right Concentration / The True Goal; Gradual Development of the Eightfold Path / The True Goal
MN 36	64	IV. The Path that Leads to the Extinction of Suffering / Right Concentration
MN 38	140–147	II. The Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering / Dependent Origination of All Phenomena
MN 39	16–21, 36	Contemplation of Mind-Objects / The Five Hindrances; Right Concentration / Nibbāna; Gradual Development of the Eightfold Path / Nibbāna
MN 43	29, 41	The Sotāpanna, or Stream-Enterer / How Stream-Entry View Arises; Right Concentration / The Four Absorptions
MN 44	12–13, 16–17	I. The Noble Truth of Suffering / The Five Groups of Existence; The Sotāpanna, or Stream-Enterer / What Personal-Existence View Is
MN 63	16–18, 17	Right Understanding / Unprofitable Questions
MN 64	11–15, 21–23	Right Understanding / The Five Fetters; Right Concentration / The Four Absorptions
MN 68	10	Right Concentration / The Four Absorptions
MN 72	42–45, 26	Right Understanding / The Two Extremes and the Middle Doctrine; Right Understanding / Free from All Theories
MN 78	29–31	IV. The Path that Leads to the Extinction of Suffering / Right Thought
MN 108	48–50	Right Concentration / The Four Absorptions
MN 118	14–15, 22–27, 28–43, 44–46	Right Mindfulness / Nibbāna through Mindfulness of Breathing; Nibbāna through Mindfulness of Breathing / Mindfulness of Breathing Completes the Four Foundations; Nibbāna through Mindfulness of Breathing / The Four Foundations Complete th…
MN 119	59–61	Contemplation of the Body / Benefits of Mindfulness of the Body
MN 139	47–50	IV. The Path that Leads to the Extinction of Suffering
MN 140	43, 49	Gradual Development of the Eightfold Path / Nibbāna; Gradual Development of the Eightfold Path / The Silent Thinker
MN 148	19	Right Understanding / Views and Discussions about the Ego
SN 12.1	5, 6	Right Understanding / Dependent Origination
SN 12.15	4–5	Right Understanding / The Two Extremes and the Middle Doctrine
SN 12.51	13	Right Understanding / Dependent Origination
SN 12.61	2, 4–5	Right Understanding / The Two Extremes and the Middle Doctrine; Right Understanding / Views and Discussions about the Ego
SN 12.66	21–22	III. The Noble Truth of the Extinction of Suffering
SN 12.67	14–16	The Group of Consciousness / Consciousness Depends on the Other Groups
SN 15.1	5	The Five Groups of Existence / Saṁsāra
SN 15.3	2–5	The Five Groups of Existence / Saṁsāra
SN 22.29	2–3	The Five Groups of Existence / The Doctrine of Not-Self
SN 22.53	7	The Group of Consciousness / Consciousness Depends on the Other Groups
SN 22.56	12, 13, 16	The Five Groups of Existence / The Group of Perception; The Five Groups of Existence / The Group of Mental Formations; The Five Groups of Existence / The Group of Consciousness
SN 22.59	9–19, 21–25	I. The Noble Truth of Suffering / The Five Groups of Existence; The Five Groups of Existence / The Three Characteristics of Existence; Right Understanding / The Three Characteristics
SN 22.89	19–20	The Sotāpanna, or Stream-Enterer / The Scent of “I Am”
SN 22.94	3–6	Right Understanding / The Three Characteristics
SN 22.95	2–11	The Five Groups of Existence / The Doctrine of Not-Self
SN 22.99	3–5	Karma / Inheritance of Deeds
SN 36.1	2	The Five Groups of Existence / The Group of Feeling
SN 38.1	3	III. The Noble Truth of the Extinction of Suffering / Nibbāna
SN 47.42	1–4	Right Mindfulness / Arising and Passing Away
SN 48.53	8	III. The Noble Truth of the Extinction of Suffering / The Arahant, or Holy One
SN 56.11	12–13, 5, 6, 2–3, 3	The Four Noble Truths; II. The Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering / The Threefold Craving; III. The Noble Truth of the Extinction of Suffering; IV. The Path that Leads to the Extinction of Suffering; Right Concentration / The Noble E…
SN 56.31	1–2	Right Concentration / The True Goal
AN 1.268–270	1–3	Right Understanding / The Three Characteristics
AN 3.36	5–20	The Five Groups of Existence / The Three Warnings
AN 3.136	whole discourse	I. The Noble Truth of Suffering / The Three Characteristics of Existence; Right Understanding / The Three Characteristics
AN 4.14	2, 3, 4, 5, 7	Right Effort / The Effort to Avoid; Right Effort / The Effort to Overcome; Right Effort / The Effort to Develop; Right Effort / The Effort to Maintain
AN 5.177	1	IV. The Path that Leads to the Extinction of Suffering / Right Livelihood
AN 6.63	36	Karma / Karma as Volition
AN 7.15	1–10	The Sotāpanna, or Stream-Enterer / Seven Kinds of Persons in the Water
AN 8.39	whole discourse	Introduction
AN 9.36	2	Gradual Development of the Eightfold Path / Insight
AN 10.2	whole discourse	The Path as a Chain of Causes
AN 10.61	whole discourse	The Path as a Chain of Causes
AN 10.76	11, whole discourse	The Sotāpanna, or Stream-Enterer / The Word of Another; The Path as a Chain of Causes
AN 10.103	whole discourse	The Path as a Chain of Causes
AN 11.3	whole discourse	The Path as a Chain of Causes
Dhp 127	12	Karma / Future Karma-Results
Dhp 146-148, Dhp 153–154	1–3, 8–9	The Five Groups of Existence / The Doctrine of Not-Self; Right Understanding / Dependent Origination
Dhp 187	9	Right Understanding / The Sotāpanna, or Stream-Enterer
Dhp 273-274, Dhp 275	1–2, 3	IV. The Path that Leads to the Extinction of Suffering; Right Concentration / The Noble Eightfold Path Summed Up
Dhp 372	13	Right Concentration / The Four Absorptions
Ud 8.1	3	III. The Noble Truth of the Extinction of Suffering / The Immutable
Ud 8.3	3	III. The Noble Truth of the Extinction of Suffering / The Immutable
Snp 592	19	Right Understanding / Unprofitable Questions
Snp 1048	6	III. The Noble Truth of the Extinction of Suffering / The Arahant, or Holy One

Discourses awaiting translation

Cited in the outline above. Where the same sentence can already be read in another discourse, that parallel is named beside it.

Cited	Title	Where the outline uses it	Parallel
SN 15.10	A Single Individual	The Five Groups of Existence / Saṁsāra	—
AN 10.216	Creepy Creatures	Karma / Inheritance of Deeds	Beings as owners and heirs of their actions is also stated in MN 135.
AN 3.34	Sources	Karma / Inheritance of Deeds	—
SN 12.43	Suffering	III. The Noble Truth of the Extinction of Suffering / Dependent Extinction of All Phenomena	—
SN 22.30	Arising	III. The Noble Truth of the Extinction of Suffering / Dependent Extinction of All Phenomena	—
AN 3.32	With Ānanda	III. The Noble Truth of the Extinction of Suffering / Nibbāna	—
AN 3.55	Extinguished	III. The Noble Truth of the Extinction of Suffering / Nibbāna	In the 2025 edition this citation is printed as SN 3.55.
SN 5.10	With Vajirā	III. The Noble Truth of the Extinction of Suffering / The Arahant, or Holy One	—
SN 22.51	The End of Relishing	Right Understanding / Understanding the Five Groups	—
AN 3.94	Springtime	The Sotāpanna, or Stream-Enterer / The Noble Ones	—
SN 44.4	With Sāriputta and Koṭṭhita	Right Understanding / The Three Characteristics	—
SN 22.85	With Yamaka	Right Understanding / The Three Characteristics	In the 2025 edition this citation is printed as Sn 22.85.
SN 12.35	Ignorance Is a Requirement	Right Understanding / The Three Characteristics	—
Thag 1144	Theragāthā 1144	Right Understanding / Dependent Origination	A verse of the Theragāthā.
AN 10.176	With Cunda	Right Speech / Abstaining from False Speech; Right Speech / Abstaining from Tale-Bearing; Right Speech / Abstaining from Harsh Language; Right Speech / Abstaining from Vain Talk; IV. The Path that Leads to the Extinction of Suffering / Right Action	—
AN 10.44	At Kusinārā	Right Speech / How to Criticise	—
DN 29	An Impressive Discourse	Right Concentration / The Four Absorptions	—
AN 8.81	Mindfulness and Situational Awareness	Right Concentration / The Four Absorptions; The Path as a Chain of Causes	—
SN 22.5	Development of Immersion	Right Concentration / The Four Absorptions	—
AN 5.21	Disrespect	The Path as a Chain of Causes	—
AN 10.62	Craving	The Path as a Chain of Causes	—

Other works quoted

The Visuddhimagga and the Vinaya are quoted alongside the discourses.

Source	Where it is cited
Vism XVI	IV. The Path that Leads to the Extinction of Suffering / Right Understanding / The Three Characteristics
Vism 19	IV. The Path that Leads to the Extinction of Suffering / Right Understanding / Dependent Origination
Vin, Parajika 4	IV. The Path that Leads to the Extinction of Suffering / Right Speech / Abstaining from False Speech