Season 2

This is the 28th Sutta of the Majjhima Nikaya, The Mahahatthipadopama Sutta, which translates as “the longer discourse on the Elephant’s Footprint”. The Buddha’s chief disciple, Venerable Sāriputta gives an elaborate demonstration of how, just as any footprint can fit inside an elephant’s, all the B...

This episode is the 27th sutta of the Majjhima Nikaya: the Culahatthipadopam Sutta which translates as “The Shorter Discourse on the Elephant’s Footprint”. In this sutta the Buddha cautions against swift conclusions about a teacher’s spiritual accomplishments, comparing it to the care a tracker woul...

This episode is the 22nd sutta of the Majjhima Nikaya: the Alagaddūpama sutta which is known as the “simile of the snake”. In this teaching one of the monks denies that breaking the rules of conduct is really a problem. The monks go to great lengths to persuade him to change his views. Then the R...

This episode is the 21th sutta of the Majjhima Nikaya: the Kakacūpama Sutta which is known as the “simile of the saw”. This teaching has several memorable similes on the importance of patience and love even when faced with abuse and criticism. The Buddha finishes with the simile of the saw, one of t...