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TEACHINGS | EASTERN HORIZON 21

in the Ekakanipāta and this method has been applied For instance, in the Chakkanipāta, raga (lobha),
to other teachings which dealt with two, three four, five dosa, moha, asubha, mettā, paññā have been brought
dhammas, etc. The eleven Nipātas are: together to fulfill six dharmas or facts. The teachings
of the Aṅguttaranikāya represent practical Buddhism.
i. Ekakanipātapāli – The Book of Ones Teachings related to good governance, 32 punishments
ii. Dukanipātapāli – The Book of Twos in ancient India, and characteristics of humans,
iii. Tikanipātapāli – The Book of Threes women, wives, etc. are found there. There are lots of
iv. Catukkanipātapāli – The Book of Fours teachings of Aṅguttaranikāya related to lay life and
v. Pañcakanipātapāli – The Book of Fives how to conduct a meaningful life in a righteous way.
vi. Chakkanipātapāli – The Book of Sixes The Venerable Bhikkhubodhi says that there are
vii. Sattakanipātapāli – The Book of Sevens 161 suttas and 125 out of them are directly related
viii. Aṭṭhakanipātapāli – The Book of Eights to lay life whereas 36 of them are indirectly related.
ix. Navakanipātapāli – The Book of Nines Therefore, Buddhist monastics and lay followers
x. Dasakanipātapāli – The Book of Tens should learn it to improve their knowledge of the
xi. Ekādasakanipātapāli – The Book of Elevens Dhamma. The phrase ‘dhammakathikapaṅgavānāṃ
vicittapaṭibhāṇajananassa’ is a suitable title for it.
Each Nipāta contains an uneven number of Vaggas.
One of the popular vaggas of the Aṅguttaranikāya is After the first Buddhist council, the Aṅguttaranikāya
the Etadaggavagga (the Section of Foremost) and it is was handed over to the disciples of Arahant
found in the first nipāta or Ekakanipāta. The Buddha Anuruddha’s lineage to memorize and transmit it from
gave titles to some of his immediate disciples based on generation to generation.
their specialties. For instance, the Buddha conferred five
foremost titles on Venerable Ānanda. They have been The Khuddakanikāya – The Minor Collection
declared as follows. The Khuddaka Nikāya is the fifth collection of the
Suttapiṭaka. It is called the Minor Collection, the Smaller
i. Bhikkhūs, the foremost of my bhikkhu disciples Collection, or the Miscellaneous Collection. The Sanskrit
among those who are learned is Ānanda. equivalent term is the Kṣudrakāgama, which means
(bahussuta), the Small Āgama. Except the Theravāda tradition, the
ii. … among those with good memory is Ānanda. Sarvāstivāda tradition accepted the Khuddaka Nikāya
(satimanta), as the Kṣudrakāgama. The Mahāsaṅghikas rejected
iii. … among those with a quick grasp is Ānanda. the Paṭisambhidāmagga, Niddesa and some parts
(gatimanta), of the Jātaka as additional texts. It is said that the
iv. … among those who are resolute is Ānanda. Dharmaguptakas accepted only 12 texts from it. In the
(dhitimanta), Sumaṅgalavilāsinī only four Saṅgītis or Nikāyas are
v. … among personal attendants is Ānanda. given but no mention of the fifth one, the Khuddaka
(upaṭṭhāka). Nikāya. The Venerable Buddhaghosa writes that there
are four saṅgīti in the Suttanta Piṭaka (Suttanta piṭake
One of the very popular suttas in Buddhism, the catasso saṅgītiyo). However, in the Samantapāsādikā
Kāḷāmasutta is found in the Tikanipāta of the commentary, the Venerable Buddhaghosa mentions
Aṅguttaranikāya. It is said that the Tikanipāta is the that there are five Nikāyas in the Suttapiṭaka.
most philosophical section in the Aṅguttaranikāya. “Kathaṃ nikāyavasena pañcavidhaṃ? Sabbameva
The systematical arrangement of the Aṅguttaranikāya cetaṃ dīghanikāyo majjhimanikāyo saṃyuttanikāyo
is very important to preserve the Buddhavacana (the aṅguttaranikāyo khuddakanikāyoti pañcappabhedaṃ
words of the Buddha). Whenever certain dhammas hoti. “What is the division of five Nikāyas? All this
are explained in certain nipātas, different dhammas the Dīghanikāya, M, S, A, and Khuddakanikāya, in
have been put together to make a special number. this way comes to the five divisions”. And also in the