THE PRESENT WORK OFFERS a complete translation of the Majjhima
Nikaya, The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha, one of the
major collections in the Sutta Pitaka or "Basket of Discourses"
belonging to the Pali Canon. This vast body of scriptures,
recorded in the ancient Indian language now known as Pali, is
regarded by the Theravada school of Buddhism as the definitive
recension of the Buddha-word, and among scholars too it is gen
erally considered our most reliable source for the original teach
ings of the historical Buddha Gotama.