Handful of Leaves, Volume I: an Anthology from the Digha Nikaya

by Thanissaro Bhikkhu

Handful of Leaves, Volume I: an Anthology from the Digha Nikaya. This volume is the first in a four-volume anthology of suttas (discourses) drawn from the Sutta Pitaka (Discourse Basket or Repository) of the Pali Canon. This volume contains suttas drawn from the first of the five collections comprising the Sutta Pitaka: the Digha Nikaya, or Long Collection.

Genres: Buddhism, Religion

371 pages, Paperback

About the author

Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu, also known as Ajaan Geoff (born Geoffrey DeGraff, 1949), is an American Theravada Buddhist monk of the Dhammayut Order (Dhammayutika Nikaya), Thai forest kammatthana tradition. He is currently the abbot of Metta Forest Monastery in San Diego County. Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu is a translator of the Pāli Canon as well as more modern Buddhist works and the author of many articles and books on Dhamma.

Reviews

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

repetitive in form, due to the oral transmitted nature of early Buddhism, nonetheless contains some of the most nuanced and accurate descriptions of the science of the brain and how to reach peaceful restful states.

For experienced meditators, experience validates the Sutta's words, ancient as they may be, they are the most accurate descriptions of meditative mental states we've had.

"Seeing that [the five hindrances] have been abandoned within him, he becomes glad. Glad, he becomes enraptured. Enraptured, his body grows tranquil. His body tranquil, he is sensitive to pleasure. Feeling pleasure, his mind becomes concentrated."

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible translation of one of the most important Buddhist texts, the Digha Nikaya. The sutta itself is long and repetitive, but contains a thorough exploration of almost all of the central tenets of Therevada Buddhism. Ajahn Geoff does an amazing job of providing contextual footnotes and cross-references, as well as a valuable introduction to each chapter.

If you have read the Dhammapada, and are interested in diving into the longer discourses, I thoroughly recommned this translation. It has taken me a long time to get through, but I'm very glad I did.