Commentaries for the Suttas of the Pali Cannon

There are ancient commentaries to almost all of the Buddha's discourses. Some of these have been translated into English and are readily available. Additionally, there are modern commentaries to some of the most important suttas. On this page, I will list as many of these commentaries as I know of.

However, first a few words of caution about working with commentaries to the Buddha's discourses: The quality of the information in the commentaries, both ancient and modern, varies enormously. Some of it is very helpful, some is mythological, some is just plain wrong. There are several schools of thought about the commentaries:

1. The Buddha's discourses are clear enough to stand on their own; commentaries should be ignored since they are not really needed and contain so much misinformation.
2. Although the Buddha's discourses should be viewed as the ultimate authority, there is valuable information in the commentaries for the reader with a critical eye.
3. The commentaries represent many years of practical research into what the Buddha taught and are often clearer than the suttas themselves.

So how should a Western reader of the suttas approach the commentaries? My own view is more closely aligned with #2. I suggest carefully reading a sutta before reading any introduction or commentary. Even read the the sutta several times; form your own opinion; then approach the commentarial material with an open mind and a very critical eye. If you find a seeming contradiction, go with the sutta until your practice experience tells you otherwise. Also be very wary when reading commentaries from other traditions.

This compilation will be an on going project - your help will be much appreciated: If you know of other ancient or modern sutta commentaries that are readily available, please email me the info at - please include the sutta number, both PPali name and English name (if available), the name of the commentary and if possible, a link to the commentary if it is on-line, otherwise a link to a place where it can be purchased (at Wisdom, Pariyatti, Shambala, or even Amazon if you can't find a publisher link). Feel free to add a review of the work if you wish (although I will probably only put negative reviews on this page - to serve as a warning).

Many thanks to Lynn Kelly for starting this project and for suggesting that I host it on this website.

Mahasi Sayadaw has written a number of commentaries on various suttas. As I get time, I will add the individual references, but for now be sure to check http://www.mahasi.com/ for over a dozen of these works (scroll to near the bottom of the page).

• Discourse on the All-Embracing Net of Views ~ Bhikkhu Bodhi, BPS, 1997; includes the Sutta and its ancient Commentaries

• Visible Here and Now ~ Ayya Khema, Shambhala Publications, 2001
• Discourse on the Fruits of Recluseship ~ Bhikkhu Bodhi, BPS, 1997; includes the Sutta and its ancient Commentaries

• Who Is My Self? : A Guide to Buddhist Meditation ~ Ayya Khema, Wisdom Publications 1997

• The Great Discourse On Causation ~ Bhikkhu Bodhi, BPS, 1994; includes the Sutta and its ancient Commentaries

• Satipatthana ~ Analayo, Windhorse Books, 2003, ISBN: 1899579540
  A thorough and insightful guide to the deceptively simple yet profound teaching found in the Satipatthana Sutta.
• The Heart of Buddhist Meditation ~ Nyanaponika Thera, Samuel Weiser, Inc, 1974. In addition to the commentary, there is translation of the sutta plus a nice selection of other suttas.
• Thich Nhat Hanh - who usually writes wonderful books - has a commentary on the Satipatthana Sutta that is terrible. Avoid wasting your time with the confusing mishmash of misinformation in Transformation and Healing.
• See also MN#10 below

• Discourse on the Root of Existence ~ Bhikkhu Bodhi, BPS, 1991; includes the Sutta and its ancient Commentaries

• The Simile of the Cloth; The Discourse on Effacement - Vatthupama and Sallekha Suttas ~ Nyanaponika Thera, BPS
  [This entire book is available on-line.]

• The Discourse on Right View ~ Bhikkhu Ñanamoli (trans.) and Bhikkhu Bodhi (ed.), BPS - WH 377; 1991
  [This entire book is available on-line.]

• The Way of Mindfulness ~ Soma Thera, BPS, 1998; translation of the sutta and its ancient commentary.
  [This entire book is available on-line.]
• See also DN#22 above

• The Lion's Roar: Two Discourses of Buddha, by Bhikkhu Ñanamoli, trans.; Bhikkhu Bodhi, ed., BPS - WH 390, 1993; Contains the 2 suttas and valuable introductions for each.
  [This entire book is available on-line.]

• The Removal of Distracting Thoughts ~ Soma Thera, BPS - WH 21, 1981; includes the Sutta and its ancient Commentaries
  [This entire book is available on-line.]

• The Seven Stages of Purification and the Insight Knowledges ~ Matara Sri Nanarama Mahathera, BPS -- 955-24-0059-7

• The Greater Discourse On Elephant’s Footprint ~ Nyanaponika Thera, BPS

• Mindfulness with Breathing - A Manual for Serious Beginners ~ Ajahn Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, Wisdom Publications, 1996
• Breath by Breath ~ Larry Rosenberg, Shambala Publications, 1998
• Breathe! You are Alive ~ Thich Nhat Hanh, 1996
• Anapana Sati - Meditation on Breathing ~ Ven. Mahathera Nauyane Ariyadhamma, BPS - BL 115
  [This entire book is available on-line.]

• The Four Noble Truths - A Study Guide ~ Thanissaro Bhikkhu [Only available on-line]
• The Nobility of the Truths ~ Bhikkhu Bodhi, BPS, 1991 [This entire book is available on-line.]
• The Noble Eightfold Path ~ Bhikkhu Bodhi, BPS, 1984, 2000 [This entire book is available on-line.]
• Eight Mindful Steps To Happiness ~ Bhante Henepola Gunaratana, 2001; Covers the 8-Fold Path

• Transcendental Dependent Arising ~ Bhikkhu Bodhi, BPS, 1979
  This 64 page book is also available on-line.

• Our Appointment with Life ~ Thich Nhat Hanh, 1990

• The Great Discourse on Not Self ~ Mahasi Sayadaw, Buddhadamma Foundation, 1996
  [This entire book is available on-line.]

• The Great Discourse on the Wheel of Dhamma ~ Mahasi Sayadaw, 1995
  [This entire book is available on-line.]
• The Feeling Buddha by David Brazier may be the worst book on Buddhism ever written. You can read my review of it here.

• Kalama Sutta - The Buddha's Charter of Free Inquiry ~ Soma Thera, BPS, 1981
  [This entire book is available on-line.]
• A Look at the Kalama Sutta ~ Bhikkhu Bodhi, BPS, 1988
  [This entire book is available on-line.]

• The Worn-out Skin - Reflections on the Uraga Sutta ~ Nyanaponika Thera, BPS, 1989
  [This entire book is available on-line.]

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Leigh Brasington / / Revised 01 May 09