Majjhima

Majjhima, short for Majjhima Nikaya, meaning "Middle-length Discourses," is a collection within the Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhism. It is one of the five Nikayas that comprise the Sutta Pitaka and contains 152 suttas attributed to the Buddha. The suttas are generally longer than those in some other collections, yet shorter than the longest discourses in the Digha Nikaya, which gives the collection its label as middle-length. The texts present a variety of formats, including dialogues, monologues, and teachings delivered to monks as well as lay followers.

Content and scope: The Majjhima covers a broad range of topics, including ethical instruction, meditation guidance, doctrinal explanations, and discussions on the path to liberation. Many discourses unfold through direct dialogue between the Buddha and interlocutors such as monks, lay followers, kings, and philosophers, and they explore themes such as the middle way, perception, the nature of suffering, and the practice of insight and mindfulness.

Historical context: The Majjhima is regarded as a foundational source for early Buddhist doctrine and pedagogy within the Theravada tradition. The discourses are traditionally viewed as arising from the Buddha’s own teachings and interactions, with later redaction organizing them into the canonical collection. In scholarly comparisons, parallel discourses exist in the Chinese Madhyama Agama.

Significance and transmission: The Majjhima is widely studied in Theravada monasteries and in modern scholarship as a representative sample of the Buddha’s mid-length sermons. It serves as a key source for doctrinal instruction and meditation guidance. The collection has been translated into English and other languages, with notable translations such as Bhikkhu Bodhi’s edition.