The Numerical Discourses
(S. Ekottarika Āgama; C. 增壹阿含經)
The Numerical Discourses is a collection of Āgama sutras that was translated to Chinese by Dharmanandi and edited by a team headed by Gautama Saṃghadeva. The exact date of translation is unclear, but the text itself retains the older style of translators prior to Gautama Saṃghadeva’s translation of the *Medium Discourses*.
The Numerical Discourses collection is controversial because it contains a number of passages of clearly Mahāyāna inspiration, yet it also represents an early canonical tradition that doesn’t align with the Theravāda or Sarvāstivāda. As such, it appears to be a piece of another tradition that offers an alternative glimpse of early Buddhist texts in India.
Like the Theravāda Aṅguttara Nikāya, the Numerical Discourses is arranged in a numerical order starting with topics with one item and ending with topics with eleven items. The sutras are arranged in 52 chapters.
Below is a list of translated sūtras from the The Numerical Discourses that are currently available. Note that the Table of Contents is a work in progress to be filled in completely in the future with titles and parallels for sūtras not yet translated. Please feel free to send any feedback or corrections.
Table of Contents
| Division | Chapter | Sūtra | Pali Parallel(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front Matter | A Reader’s Guide | ||
| Introduction | Dao-an’s Preface | ||
| 1. Introduction | — | ||
| The Ones | 2. Ten Recollections | 1. The Buddha | AN 1.296 |
| 2. The Dharma | AN 1.297 | ||
| 3. The Saṅgha | AN 1.298 | ||
| 4. The Precepts | AN 1.299 | ||
| 5. Generosity | AN 1.300 | ||
| 6. The Gods | AN 1.301 | ||
| 7. Peace | AN 1.305 | ||
| 8. Breathing | AN 1.302 | ||
| 9. The Body | AN 1.304 | ||
| 10. Death | AN 1.303 | ||
| 3. Broader Explanations | 1. The Buddha | — | |
| 2. The Dharma | — | ||
| 3. The Saṅgha | — | ||
| 4. The Precepts | — | ||
| 5. Generosity | — | ||
| 6. The Gods | — | ||
| 7. Peace | — | ||
| 8. Breathing | (MN 62) | ||
| 9. The Body | — | ||
| 10. Death | — | ||
| 4. Disciples | AN 1.188-234 | ||
| 5. Nuns | AN 1.235-247 | ||
| 6. Laymen | AN 1.248-257 | ||
| 7. Laywomen | AN 1.258-267 | ||
| 8. Asura | 1. Asura | — | |
| 2. Beneficial | AN 1.170 | ||
| 3. The Single-Entry Path | — | ||
| 4. The Light | AN 1.176-177 | ||
| 5. The Darkness | — | ||
| 6. The Factors of the Path | — | ||
| 7. Disappearance | AN 1.173 | ||
| 8. Belief | — | ||
| 9. Flourishing | — | ||
| 10. Unmatched | AN 1.174 | ||
| 9. The Only Son | 1. The Laywoman | SN 17.23 | |
| 2. The Laywoman (2) | SN 17.24 | ||
| 3. The Mind | — | ||
| 4. The Mind (2) | SN 12.61 | ||
| 5. Downfall | AN 1.43, Iti 20 | ||
| 6. Birth in Heaven | AN 1.44, Iti 21 | ||
| 7. A Man’s Perception | AN 1.1-5 | ||
| 8. A Woman’s Perception | AN 1.6-10 | ||
| 9. Notions of Desire | AN 1.11-15 | ||
| 10. Notions of Desire (2) | AN 1.16-20 | ||
| 10. The Guarded Mind | 1. No Pride | Iti 23 | |
| 2. No Pride (2) | — | ||
| 3. Recollecting Generosity | — | ||
| 4. Generosity | — | ||
| 5. Generosity (2) | — | ||
| 6. The Stingy and the Tireless | Iti 26 | ||
| 7. Merits of Generosity | Iti 22, AN 7.62 | ||
| 8. Māra the Wicked One | — | ||
| 9. Bad Destinies | — | ||
| 10. One Person | — | ||
| 11. The Non-Returner | 1. Non-Returning | Iti 1 | |
| 2. Non-Returning (2) | Iti 2 | ||
| 3. Non-Returning (3) | Iti 3 | ||
| 4. Non-Returning (4) | Iti 4 | ||
| 5. Heart | AN 21-30 | ||
| 6. Heart (2) | AN 21-30 | ||
| 7. Alms | SN 17.11-20 | ||
| 8. Alms (2) | SN 17.11-20 | ||
| 9. Devadatta | SN 17.31-36 | ||
| 10. Devadatta (2) | SN 17.31-36 | ||
| 12. The Single-Entry Path | 1. The Abodes of Mindfulness | MN 10 | |
| 2. Spitefulness | — | ||
| 3. The Most Honored | — | ||
| 4. Watching over the Sick | — | ||
| 5. Praise and Slander | (SN 16.5) | ||
| 6. Senior Years | SN 16.5 | ||
| 7. Devadatta | — | ||
| 8. Devadatta (2) | — | ||
| 9. Skin | (SN 17.28) | ||
| 10. Śrīla | — | ||
| 13. Profit | 1. Surādha | — | |
| 2. Enjoyment of Desires | — | ||
| 3. Nāḷijaṅgha | MN 87 | ||
| 4. Nakula | SN 22.1 | ||
| 5. Sundarī | (MN 7) | ||
| 6. Good Deeds | SN 11.16 | ||
| 7. Śakra the Lord of Gods | — | ||
| 14. The Five Precepts | 1. Killing Beings | (AN 1.312-313) | |
| 2. Not Killing Beings | — | ||
| 3. Stealing | — | ||
| 4. Generosity | — | ||
| 5. Wrong Sex | — | ||
| 6. No Wrong Sex | — | ||
| 7. False Speech | — | ||
| 8. Not Speaking Falsely | — | ||
| 9. Drinking Alcohol | — | ||
| 10. Not Drinking Alcohol | — | ||
| The Twos | 15. Existence and Inexistence | 1. Two Kinds of Views | — |
| 2. Two Kinds of Views (2) | — | ||
| 3. Two Kinds of Gifts | (AN 2.141-150) | ||
| 4. Two Kinds of Work | (AN 2.141-150) | ||
| 5. Two Kinds of Favors | (AN 2.141-150) | ||
| 6. Two Signs of a Fool | (AN 2.134-137) | ||
| 7. Honoring the Tathāgata | — | ||
| 8. Honoring the Dharma | — | ||
| 9. Honoring the Tathāgata’s Shrine | — | ||
| 10. Right View | AN 2.126 | ||
| 16. The Fire Extinguished | 1. Nanda | — | |
| 2. Nirvāṇa | Iti 44 | ||
| 3. The Crow | — | ||
| 4. The Donkey | AN 3.82 | ||
| 5. Unskillful | — | ||
| 6. Two Things | — | ||
| 7. The Candle | — | ||
| 8. Patience and Contemplation | — | ||
| 9. The Priest | — | ||
| 10. Rāhula | — | ||
| 17. Breathing | 1. Rāhula | MN 62 | |
| 2. Two People | AN 2.52-63 | ||
| 3. Two People (2) | AN 2.52-63 | ||
| 4. Two Afflictions | — | ||
| 5. Bitter Fruit | AN 1.306-315 | ||
| 6. Sweet Fruit | AN 1.306-315 | ||
| 7. Mūrdhaja | — | ||
| 8. Jānussoṇī | AN 5.31 | ||
| 9. Good and Bad Friendship | MN 113 | ||
| 10. Cūlapanthaka | — | ||
| 11. Devadatta | AN 4.70 | ||
| 18. Conscience and Modesty | 1. Conscience and Modesty | AN 2.1-10 | |
| 2. Two People | AN 2.1-10 | ||
| 3. Dharma and Alms Giving | MN 3 | ||
| 4. Kasyapa | — | ||
| 5. Naga | — | ||
| 6. Ananda | SN 21.8 | ||
| 7. Ananda (2) | — | ||
| 8. Path of Great Affection | — | ||
| 9. Blameworthy | AN 2.21-31 | ||
| 10. Commendable | AN 2.130-140 | ||
| 19. The Request | 1. Brahmā’s Request | SN 6.1 | |
| 2. Two Things | SN 56.11 | ||
| 3. Ending Craving | MN 37 | ||
| 4. The Lion | AN 2.52-63 | ||
| 5. The Unwise | — | ||
| 6. Little Wealth | — | ||
| 7. The Poor Family | — | ||
| 8. Susima | — | ||
| 9. Kātyāyana | AN 2.32-41 | ||
| 10. Dharma Teachers | — | ||
| 11. A Woman | — | ||
| 20. Good Friends | 1. Good Friends | — | |
| 2. Devadatta | — | ||
| 3. Dharmaruci | — | ||
| 4. The Lion and the Sheep | — | ||
| 5. Knowing Rebirth | AN 2.32-41 | ||
| 6. The Indolent | — | ||
| 7. The Forest Dweller | AN 2.21-31 | ||
| 8. The Forest Dweller (2) | — | ||
| 9. Two People | — | ||
| 10. Two Things | — | ||
| 11. Mother and Father | AN 2.32-41, 7.63 | ||
| 12. Cūḷapanthaka | — | ||
| 13. Two Things | — | ||
| The Threes | 21. Three Treasures | 1. The Best Virtue | Iti 90; AN 4.34, 5.32 |
| 2. Fortunate Deeds | — | ||
| 3. Three Causes | MN 38 | ||
| 4. Three Women | AN 3.75 | ||
| 5. Gopali | AN 10.89, SN 6.9-10, Snp 3.10 | ||
| 6. Three Nights | AN 3.16 | ||
| 7. Illness | AN 3.68, 10.108 | ||
| 8. Bad Conduct | — | ||
| 9. What’s Painful | MN 13 | ||
| 10. Insecurity | — | ||
| 22. Three Offerings | 1. Offerings | — | |
| 2. Three Roots of Goodness | — | ||
| 3. Three Feelings | — | ||
| 4. Three Things Covered and Revealed | AN 3.131 | ||
| 5. Signs | AN 3.47 | ||
| 6. Principles | AN 3.2-9 | ||
| 7. Three Things Unrealized | — | ||
| 8. Affection and Respect | AN 3.39 | ||
| 9. Spring Rains | AN 3.129 | ||
| 10. Unsatisfied | AN 3.108 | ||
| 23. Lord of the Earth | 1. Lord of the Earth | — | |
| 2. Bakula | — | ||
| 3. Śroṇakoṭīviṃśa | AN 6.65 | ||
| 4. Seti | SN 3.19 | ||
| 5. Disagreeable and Agreeable Odors | AN 3.79 | ||
| 6. The Fool | — | ||
| 7. Ajātaśatru | AN 4.68, SN 17.35-6 | ||
| 8. Three Roots of Unskillfulness | — | ||
| 9. Three Categories | — | ||
| 10. Examining the Here and the Hereafter | — | ||
| 24. Tall Flag | 1. The Flag | SN 11.3 | |
| 2. Bisa | — | ||
| 3. Dharma King | — | ||
| 4. *The Fingernail | SN 22.97 | ||
| 5. Miraculous Transformations | MN 26 | ||
| 6. The Three Fasting Days | AN 3.37-8 | ||
| 7. Directly Present | AN 3.41 | ||
| 8. Long Life | MN 31, 128 | ||
| 9. Bonds | — | ||
| 10. Samādhi | AN 3.183-352 | ||
| The Fours | 25. The Four Truths | 1. The Truths | SN 56.21 |
| 2. Benefits | — | ||
| 3. Ānanda | AN 4.128 | ||
| 4. The Heavy Burden | SN 22.22 | ||
| 5. Four Kinds of Births | — | ||
| 6. Bondage | MN 5 | ||
| 7. Four Fruits | AN 4.105 | ||
| 8. Following the High Winds | SN 17.9 | ||
| 9. Four Kinds of Bird | — | ||
| 10. Thunder | AN 4.102 | ||
| 26. The Four Mental Abandonments | 1. Mental Abandonment | SN 3.17 | |
| 2. Mental Abandonment (2) | SN 3.17 | ||
| 3. Mental Abandonment (3) | SN 3.17 | ||
| 4. Mental Abandonment (4) | SN 3.17 | ||
| 5. Four in Darkness | — | ||
| 6. Old Age and Death | SN 3.3 | ||
| 7. Ayika | SN 3.22 | ||
| 8. Principles of Beginning and End | AN 4.185 | ||
| 9. Śāriputra | SN 47.13 | ||
| 10. Vālkali | SN 22.87 | ||
| 27. Inclining to the Four Truths | 1. ? | (MN 141) | |
| 2. ? | MN 11 | ||
| 3. ? | AN 9.20 | ||
| 4. ? | — | ||
| 5. ? | — | ||
| 6. Four Kinds of Fearlessness | AN 4.8 | ||
| 7. ? | AN 4.7 | ||
| 8. ? | — | ||
| 9. ? | — | ||
| 10. ? | — | ||
| 28. Direct Disciple | 1. Piṇḍola | — | |
| 2. Obscurations | AN 4.50 | ||
| 3. Hastaka | AN 3.35 | ||
| 4. Mṛgaśiras | — | ||
| 5. Great Expositions | AN 4.180 | ||
| 6. Later Happiness | — | ||
| 7. Gentle | AN 4.88 | ||
| 29. Pain and Pleasure | 1. ? | ||
| 2. ? | |||
| 3. ? | |||
| 4. ? | |||
| 5. ? | |||
| 6. ? | |||
| 7. ? | |||
| 8. ? | |||
| 9. ? | |||
| 10. ? | |||
| 30. Suda | 1. Suda | — | |
| 2. Sumana | — | ||
| 3. Kunda | — | ||
| 31. Progressive | 1. ? | ||
| 2. ? | |||
| 3. ? | |||
| 4. ? | |||
| 5. ? | |||
| 6. ? | |||
| 7. ? | |||
| 8. The Bodhisattva’s Austerities | MN 12, 36 | ||
| 9. ? | |||
| 10. ? | |||
| 11. ? | |||
| The Fives | 32. Good Things | 1. ? | |
| 2. ? | |||
| 3. ? | |||
| 4. ? | |||
| 5. ? | |||
| 6. ? | |||
| 7. ? | |||
| 8. ? | |||
| 9. ? | |||
| 10. ? | |||
| 11. ? | |||
| 12. ? | |||
| 33. The Five Kings | 1. ? | ||
| 2. ? | |||
| 3. ? | |||
| 4. ? | |||
| 5. ? | |||
| 6. ? | |||
| 7. ? | |||
| 8. ? | |||
| 9. ? | |||
| 10. ? | |||
| 34. Right View | 1. ? | ||
| 2. ? | |||
| 3. ? | |||
| 4. ? | |||
| 5. ? | |||
| 6. ? | |||
| 7. ? | |||
| 8. ? | |||
| 9. ? | |||
| 10. ? | |||
| 35. Wrong Things | 1. ? | ||
| 2. ? | |||
| 3. ? | |||
| 4. ? | |||
| 5. ? | |||
| 6. ? | |||
| 7. ? | |||
| 8. ? | |||
| 9. ? | |||
| 10. ? | |||
| 36. Listening to Dharma | 1. ? | ||
| 2. ? | |||
| 3. ? | |||
| 4. ? | |||
| 5. ? | |||
| The Sixes | 37. Six Principles | 1. ? | |
| 2. ? | |||
| 3. ? | |||
| 4. ? | |||
| 5. ? | |||
| 6. ? | |||
| 7. ? | |||
| 8. ? | |||
| 9. ? | |||
| 10. ? | |||
| 38. Powers | 1. ? | ||
| 2. ? | |||
| 3. ? | |||
| 4. ? | |||
| 5. ? | |||
| 6. ? | |||
| 7. ? | |||
| 8. ? | |||
| 9. ? | |||
| 10. ? | |||
| 11. ? | |||
| 12. ? | |||
| The Sevens | 39. Correct Qualities | 1. ? | |
| 2. ? | |||
| 3. ? | |||
| 4. ? | |||
| 5. ? | |||
| 6. ? | |||
| 7. ? | |||
| 8. ? | |||
| 9. ? | |||
| 10. ? | |||
| 40. Seven Suns | 1. ? | ||
| 2. ? | |||
| 3. ? | |||
| 4. ? | |||
| 5. ? | |||
| 6. ? | |||
| 7. ? | |||
| 8. ? | |||
| 9. ? | |||
| 10. ? | |||
| 41. Fear Not | 1. ? | ||
| 2. ? | |||
| 3. ? | |||
| 4. ? | |||
| 5. ? | |||
| The Eights | 42. The Eight Difficulties | 1. ? | |
| 2. ? | |||
| 3. ? | |||
| 4. ? | |||
| 5. ? | |||
| 6. ? | |||
| 7. ? | |||
| 8. ? | |||
| 9. ? | |||
| 10. ? | |||
| 43. The God *Rohitassa’s Question | 1. ? | ||
| 2. ? | |||
| 3. ? | |||
| 4. ? | |||
| 5. The Parable of the Raft | MN 22 | ||
| 6. ? | |||
| 7. The Fruits of the Ascetics | DN 2 | ||
| 8. ? | |||
| 9. ? | |||
| 10. ? | |||
| The Nines | 44. Nine Abodes of Sentient Beings | 1. ? | |
| 2. ? | |||
| 3. ? | |||
| 4. ? | |||
| 5. ? | |||
| 6. ? | |||
| 7. ? | |||
| 8. ? | |||
| 9. ? | |||
| 10. ? | |||
| 11. ? | |||
| 45. King of Horses | 1. ? | ||
| 2. ? | |||
| 3. ? | |||
| 4. ? | |||
| 5. ? | |||
| 6. ? | |||
| 7. ? | |||
| … | … | … | … |
| The Tens | 46. Binding Rules | 4. Ten Powers | AN 10.21 |
| … | … | … | … |
| The Elevens | 50. Venerating the Three Treasures | 6. Knowledge of Rebirth | MN 12 |
| … | |||
| 8. The Snake Parable | MN 21, 22 | ||
| … | … | … | … |
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