Ancient Buddhist Texts Home Page
eBooks
On this page works in epub, mobi and pdf format are being made available in one place. All of the texts can also be downloaded from each individual page.
English Only eBooks
pdf zip (36 MB) epub zip (15 MB) mobi zip (12 MB)
Texts and Translations eBooks
pdf zip (26 MB) epub zip (22 MB) mobi zip (22 MB)
If you would like the works in epub and mobi from other sections I can highly recommend GrabMyBooks, an add-on for Firefox which allows for collecting, editing and saving of material as epub from any webpage, and Calibre which can convert it to mobi.
this is the epub collection
click here to go to the mobi collection
click here to go to the pdf collection
Biographical Works
Early Sources for the Life of the Buddha:
The Earliest Recorded Discourses of the Buddha
(from Lalitavistara, Mahākhandaka & Mahāvastu)
The Discourse about the Noble Search (MN 26)
The Discourse to Prince Bodhi (MN 85)
The Journey from Uruvilvā to Ṛṣipatana (from Mahāvastu)
Exalted Utterances (Udāna, KN 3)
The Great Emancipation (DN 16)
Buddhakhetta and Buddhāpadāna (Ap 1.1 and Essay)
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)
Nandaka’s Advice (MN 146 & AA 1.4.7)
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 Discourse on the Right Use (of Wealth) (AN 5.41)
The Six Factors of Giving (AN 6.37)
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)
Abhidhamma
Some Important Works from the Abhidhamma:
The Matrix from the Abstract Teaching (Dhammasaṅgaṇī 1 & 2)
The Analysis of Conditional Origination (Vibh. 6)
The Analysis of the Ways of Attending to Mindfulness (Vibh. 7)
The Enumeration and Explanation of the Conditions (Paṭṭhāna 1 & 2)
Post-Canonical Works
Some Important Works from the Post-Canonical Period:
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)
Saṅkha’s Story
or: Paccekabuddhas Teach Awakening (from DhpA 290)
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
The Light of Asia by Sir Edwin Arnold
Buddha, a poem by Madame A. Christina Albers
The Extended Mahāvaṁsa
Asoka and the Missions
Texts and Translations
Grammar
Navapadamañjarī
A New Collection of Sentences
(illustrating Pāḷi case endings)
Tisuttanirutti
A Grammatical Analysis of Three Discourses
(Maṅgala, Ratana and Mettā)
Biographical Works
Early Sources for the Life of the Buddha:
Mahākhandhako
The Great Chapter (Vin. Mv. 1-4)
Ariyapariyesanasuttaṁ
The Discourse about the Noble Search (MN 26)
Bodhirājakumārasuttaṁ
The Discourse to Prince Bodhi (MN 85)
Uruvilvāto Ṛṣipatanaṁ Gamanaṁ
The Journey from Uruvilvā to Ṛṣipatana (Mhv pp. 322-329)
Udāna
Exalted Utterances (KN 3)
Pārāyanavaggo
The Way to the Beyond (Sn 5)
Mahāparinibbānasuttaṁ
The Discourse about the Great Emancipation (DN 16)
Pubbakammapilotika-Buddhāpadānaṁ
The Connection with Previous Deeds (Apadāna 39.10 & Comm.)
Doctrinal Works
Doctrinal Works from Pāḷi and Sanskrit Sources:
Buddhanīti Saṅgaho
A Collection of Buddhist Wisdom Verses
Khuddakapāṭha
The Short Readings (KN 1)
Bhikkhunīsaṁyutta
Thematic Discourses about Nuns (SN 5)
Nandaka’s Advice (MN 146 & MA 146 & AA 1.4.7)
Dhammacakkappavattanasuttaṁ
The Discourse that Set the Dhamma Wheel Rolling (Vinaya Mv 1)
Dharmacakrapravartanasūtram
The Discourse that Set the Dharma-Wheel Rolling (from Lalitavistara)
Saccavibhaṅghasuttaṁ
The Discourse giving the Analysis of the Truths (MN 141)
Dutiya[-indriya]vibhaṅgasuttaṁ
The Second Discourse giving an Analysis of the Faculties (SN 48.10)
Dakkihiṇāvibhaṅghasuttaṁ
The Analysis of Offerings (MN 142)
Titthāyatanasuttaṁ
The Belief Systems (AN 3.62)
Paṭhamakathāvatthusuttaṁ
The First Discourse on the Bases for Talk (AN 10.69)
Pattakammasuttaṁ
The Discourse about Suitable Deeds (AN 4.61)
Ādiyasuttaṁ
The Discourse on the Right Use (of Wealth) (AN 5.41)
Chaḷaṅgadāna The Six Factors of Giving (AN & AA 6.37)
Meditation Discourses
Works from the Pāḷi Canon on Meditation:
Mahāsatipaṭṭhānasuttaṁ
The Long Discourse about the Ways of Attending to Mindfulness (DN 22)
Ānāpānasatisuttaṁ
The Discourse about Mindfulness while Breathing (MN 118)
Kāyagatāsatisuttaṁ
The Discourse about Mindfulness related to the Body (MN 119)
Girimānandasuttaṁ
The Discourse to Girimānanda (AN 10:60)
Mahārāhulovādasuttaṁ
The Long Discourse Giving Advice to Rāhula (MN 62)
Mālunkyaputtasuttaṁ
The Discourse Concerning Māluṅkyaputta (SN 35. 95)
Abhidhamma
Some Important Works from the Abhidhamma:
Abhidhammamātikā
The Matrix from the Abstract Teaching (Dhammasaṅgaṇī 1 & 2)
Paṭiccasamuppādavibhaṅga
Analysis of Conditional Origination (Vibh. 6)
Satipaṭṭhānavibhaṅga
Analysis of the Ways of Attending to Mindfulness (Vibh. 7)
Paccayuddesaniddesa
The Enumeration and Explanation of the Conditions (Paṭṭhāna 1 & 2)
Post-Canonical Works
Some Important Works from the Post-Canonical Period:
Naḷinikājātakavaṇṇanā (Jā 526)
or: The Seduction of an Innocent
Kuṇālajātakanidānaṁ (from Jā 536)
or: The Buddha goes to War
Saṅkhakathā (from DhpA 290)
or: Paccekabuddhas Teach Awakening
The Buddhacarita or Life of Buddha
(Sanskrit, 1st c. C.E.)
Jinacaritaṁ
The Life of the Victorious Buddha (Pāḷi, 13th c. Śrī Laṁkan Text)
Asoka and the Missions
from the Extended Mahāvaṁsa
Chanting Texts
Major and Minor Chanting Texts:
please note that many chanting texts that used to be listed separately in this section are now gathered together in the Safeguard Recitals book
Safeguard Recitals
(a large collection of protection chants)
Daily Chanting
(Devasikā Sajjhayanā)
Aggasāvikā Bhikkhunī
The Great Nun Disciples
Namakkārapāḷi
The Reverence Text