Ancient Buddhist Texts Home Page
Texts in English Only
In this section a growing body of works, including translations
that appear in the Texts and Translations section of this website
are presented in English only.
All of these translations are now available in 6 different formats:
HTM, PDF, EPUB, MOBI, FLIP-BOOK & MP3
The audio files can be accessed either
from the page itself or by going to the
Audio page
The epub and mobi files can be downloaded
individually or in bulk from the
E-Books page
Biographical Works
Early Sources for the Life of the Buddha:
The Earliest Recorded Discourses of the Buddha
(from Lalitavistara, Mahākhandaka & Mahāvastu)
The Journey from Uruvilvā to Ṛṣipatana (from Mahāvastu)
Exalted Utterances (Udāna, KN 3)
The Great Emancipation (DN 16)
Why the Buddha Suffered (Ap 39.10 and Comm.)
Doctrinal Works
Doctrinal works mainly from the Pāḷi Canon:
Buddhist Wisdom Verses
(551 verses from the Canon)
Thematic Discourses about Nuns (SN 5)
The Discourse that Set the Dhamma Wheel Rolling (from Vin Mv 1)
The Discourse that Set the Dharma-Wheel Rolling (from Lalitavistara)
The Discourse on Arising and Ceasing (The Fourth Discourse of the Buddha) (Mhv pp. 446-9)
The Discourse giving the Analysis of the Truths (MN 141)
The Second Discourse giving an Analysis of the Faculties (SN 48.10)
The Discourse giving the Analysis of Offerings (MN 142)
The Discourse on the Belief Systems (AN 3.61)
The First Discourse on the Bases for Talk (AN 10.69)
The Discourse about Suitable Deeds (AN 4.61)
The Explanation and Analysis of Conditional Origination from the Beginning
Meditation Discourses
Works from the Pāḷi Canon on Meditation:
The Discourse about the Ways of Attending to Mindfulness (DN 22)
The Discourse about Mindfulness while Breathing (MN. 118)
The Discourse about Mindfulness related to the Body (MN. 119)
The Discourse to Girimānanda (AN 10:60)
The Long Discourse Giving Advice to Rāhula (MN 62)
The Discourse Concerning Māluṅkyaputta (SN 35. 95)
The Matrix from the Abstract Teaching (from Dhammasaṅgaṇī)
The Analysis of the Ways of Attending to Mindfulness (Vibh. 7)
Post-Canonical Works
Jātakas and Later Lives of the Buddha:
Naḷinikā's Story
or: The Seduction of an Innocent (Jā 526)
The Introduction to the Story of the Cuckoo
or: The Buddha goes to War (from Jā 536)
Garland of Birth Stories
J. S. Speyer's translation of Āryaśūra's Jātakamālā
The Buddha Carita or The Life of the Buddha
E.B. Cowell's translation of Aśvaghoṣa's Buddhacarita
The Life of the Victorious Buddha
translation of Jinacarita