A ..... Anguttara Nikaya
D ..... Digha Nikaya
Dhp ..... Dhammapada
Iti ..... Itivuttaka
M ..... Majjhima Nikaya
Mv ..... Mahavagga
S ..... Samyutta Nikaya
Thig ..... Therigatha
Ud ..... Udana

References to D, Iti, and M are to discourse (sutta). References to Dhp are to verse. The reference to Mv is to chapter, section, and sub-section. References to other texts are to section (samyutta, nipata, or vagga) and discourse.

All translations are the author's own, and are based on the Royal Thai Edition of the Pali Canon (Bangkok: Mahamakut Rajavidyalaya, 1982).

Other Abbreviations

Comm ..... Commentary
lit ..... literal meaning
PTS ..... Pali Text Society
vl ..... variant reading

In the translated passages, parentheses ( ) enclose alternative renderings and material summarized from longer passages in the text. Square brackets [ ] enclose explanatory information, cross-references, and other material not found in the original text. Braces { } enclose material interpolated from other passages in the Canon; the source of this material is indicated in braces as part of the citation at the end of the passage.

Because Pali has many ways of expressing the word "and," I have -- to avoid monotony -- used the ampersand (&) to join lists of words and short phrases, and the word "and" to long phrases and clauses.

In passages where no speaker is identified, the words are the Buddha's.