This program will take an in-depth look at the 16 suttas found in Sutta Nipāta Book V. Many scholars believe these discourses were composed early in the development of Buddhism, prior to the inevitable institutionalization of the tradition. These suttas are presented as conversations in which the Buddha addresses questions posed by learned brahmins, for example: “Where do mind-and-body completely cease?” “Who here in the world is content?”; “What is the origin of dukkha?”; and “How should one view the world so the King of Death does not see one?” Together, we will explore these questions and the Buddha’s responses, as well as other themes such as old age and death, dukkha, craving, sensuality, quenching, nothingness, and awakening.

For Leigh's website on the Pārāyanavagga, see http://leighb.com/wttfs/.