The Digha Nikaya is the first of five nikayas, or collections, in the Sutta Pitaka, one of the "three baskets" that comprise the Pali Tipitaka of (Theravada) Buddhism. Digha Nikaya, a collection of 34 lengthy suttas that include doctrinal expositions, stories, and moral guidelines. This article will explain to you the Digha Nikaya which will be helpful in Ancient History preparation for the UPSC Civil service exam.

Digha Nikaya

• The Digha Nikaya is a collection of Buddha's lengthy lectures.
• The Digha Nikaya is divided into chapters. The most crucial of these is the Buddha's rejection of physical sciences.
• The Digha Nikaya is a Buddhist text, the first of five nikayas (collections) in the Sutta Pitaka, one of the "three baskets" that comprise Theravada Buddhism's Pali Tipitaka.
• It is known as the "Collection of Long Discourses" in English.
• A complete version of the Dharmaguptaka School's Dirgha Agama survived in Chinese translation under the title Chang Ahanjing.
• The "Long" Discourses are made up of 34 suttas, including the Canon's longest.
• These suttas contain a broad range of subjects, from colourful folklore stories of deva realm beings to practical meditation instructions, and all in between.
• The Digha Nikaya might have been produced "for the goal of promotion, in order to win followers to the new faith."
• It has 30 sutras (discourses), as opposed to the Theravada Digha Nikaya's 34 suttantas (discourses).
• Fragments of the Sarvastivadin School's Dirgha Agama may also be found in Sanskrit and Tibetan translations.
• Buddhaghosa wrote the Sumangalavilasini, a commentary on the Digha Nikaya, around the fifth century.
• Digha Nikaya is divided into three vaggas, or sections:
  • Silakhandha-vagga — The Division Concerning Morality (13 suttas)
  • Maha-vagga — The Large Division (10 suttas)
  • Patika-vagga — The Patika Division (11 suttas)

Important Suttas of the Digha Nikaya

• Brahmajala Sutta - The Buddha explains sixty-two logical and speculative beliefs concerning the self and the universe that were widespread among spiritual aspirants of his day in this famous sutta, the first in the Tipitaka.
• Potthapada Sutta - The ascetic on the go Potthapada presents the Buddha with a tangle of questions on the nature of perception.
• The Buddha clarifies the situation by going over the basics of concentration meditation and demonstrating how it might lead to the ultimate cessation of awareness.
• Kevatta Sutta - This discourse investigates the function of miracles and interactions with heavenly creatures as potential sources of faith and belief.
• The Buddha does not reject the truth of such experiences, but he points out that, of all potential miracles, the only one that can be relied on is the miracle of teaching in right mind training.
• As a result, the only genuine basis for trust is the teaching that, when followed, results in the removal of one's own mental defilements.
• The story that finishes the speech is a wonderful illustration of the early Buddhist sense of humour.
• Maha-parinibbana Sutta - This extensive sutta, the longest in the Pali canon, details the events preceding, during, and shortly following the Buddha's death and final liberation (parinibbana).
• This vibrant story contains a variety of Dhamma teachings, including the Buddha's last instructions, which outlined how Buddhism would be lived and practised long after the Buddha's death - and even now.
• However, this sutta also illustrates, in plain terms, the heartbreaking human drama that unfolds among the Buddha's many devoted disciples around the time of their beloved teacher's death.
• Sigalovada Sutta - The Buddha's description of the householder's rule of discipline to the layman Sigala.
• This sutta provides useful practical guidance for householders on how to behave oneself successfully in their interactions with parents, spouses, children, pupils, teachers, employers, workers, friends, and spiritual mentors so that everyone is happy.

Conclusion

The Digha Nikaya is a series of long lectures given by Buddha. The Digha Nikaya is broken into chapters. The Buddha's rejection of physical sciences is the most important of these. These suttas contain a broad range of subjects, from colourful folklore stories of deva realm beings to practical meditation instructions, and all in between.