No 36 Mahasaccaka Sutta The Dhamma Leaf Series The Greater Discourse to Saccaka

This booklet comes from the Majjhima Nikaya MN-36, the Mahasaccaka Sutta, The Greater Discourse to Saccaka, given by the Buddha and is taken from the translation by Bhikkhu Nanamoli and Bhikkhu Bodhi. This particular sutta is very important because it tells us about many of the austerities and practices the Bodhisatta did in order to finally attain the supreme achievement of his life - Nibbana. He first began practicing meditation with two of the most advanced teacher of his time. He was very successful with both teachers but was not satisfied because although these practices did give good results, they didn't lead to getting off of the "wheel of samsara." The only kinds of meditation practices that were known at that time involved one-pointed absorption concentration. This type of practice has very deep concentration and leads the meditator to some profoundly wonderful states of mind. But after having direct knowledge of them, he saw that these types of meditation had some limitations in them and didn't lead to final liberation. So, the Bodhisatta went off to search for a method of meditation that not only has deep concentration (samatha), but simultaneously developed insight (vipassana) as well. This booklet explains how he tried many different practices, from holding his breath to starving his body, until he finally found the way that leads directly to the attainment of Nibbana.