Early Buddhism · the middle way · c. 563 – c. 483 BCE (traditional dates)

Buddha

Understand suffering in order to be free of it.

Lumbini · Bodh Gaya · Sarnath · Kushinagar

Portraits: artistic interpretations

Reading guides

A thread to guide your reading.

Original introductions to enter the works, discover their central questions and take the reflection further.

Follow the Dhammapada’s paired verses on mind, hatred and heedfulness, distinguishing each verse from the story its later commentary adds.

Reconstruct the first discourse: the rejection of two extremes, the four noble truths and the task each truth assigns to the listener.

Explore the old chapters of the Sutta Nipāta on letting go of views, boundless goodwill and the brahmin defined by conduct rather than birth.