SN 10 · 12 texts · 12 in English
Linked Discourses with Spirits
Yakkhasaṁyutta
The “Linked Discourses with Spirits” contains 12 discourses with verses telling the encounters between the Buddha—or in one case the monk Anuruddha—and various spirits (yakkha). The spirits were local deities worshiped in ancient India, of a lower order than the gods and Brahmās. While in later forms of Buddhism, such spirits were typically depicted as malevolent or dangerous, in the early texts they are more ambivalent, and many of them are friendly, merely asking Dhamma questions, or extolling Dhamma virtues like mindfulness. That’s not to say they couldn’t be scary, and several discourses reveal a more ferocious aspect. Particularly interesting is the emphasis on the love that the female spirits feel for their children.
The Chapter with Indaka
Indakavagga-
SN 10.1
With IndakaIndakasutta
A local spirit asks the Buddha how a body is produced if there is no soul.
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SN 10.2
Sakka In Name OnlySakkanāmasutta
A spirit tells the Buddha that if he is truly free he should not be instructing others.
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SN 10.3
With SpikySūcilomasutta
The spirits Khara and Sūciloma argue about whether the Buddha is a true ascetic or not. They approach him initially with threats, but then ask as to the origin of greed and hate.
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SN 10.4
With MaṇibhaddaMaṇibhaddasutta
The spirit Maṇibhadda speaks in praise of mindfulness, opining that a mindful one is free of hate. The Buddha responds that yes, mindfulness is wonderful, but only through developing love is one free of hate.
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SN 10.5
With SānuSānusutta
It seems that the novice Sānu had returned to his home intending to disrobe. To prevent him, a spirit possessed him, encouraging him to pursue the path of good. Sānu’s mother, weeping for her son, also tries to make him stay in robes.
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SN 10.6
With PiyaṅkaraPiyaṅkarasutta
A female spirit hushes her son Piyaṅkara so she can hear the teaching and pursue harmlessness.
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SN 10.7
With PunabbasuPunabbasusutta
A female spirit hushes her children as she listens to the teaching. But her son Punabbasu says that he had not been talking, as he too wants to learn.
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SN 10.8
With SudattaSudattasutta
When Anāthapiṇḍika heard that a Buddha had arisen in the world, he rose first thing in the morning to go and visit him. But a mysterious darkness caused him to hesitate, so a spirit repeatedly encouraged him to step forward. Finally he reached the Buddha, and asked if he had slept well.
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SN 10.9
With the Nun Sukkā (1st)Paṭhamasukkāsutta
A spirit was full of faith in the nun Sukkā, so he went about the towns and villages encouraging people to listen to her teaching.
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SN 10.10
With the Nun Sukkā (2nd)Dutiyasukkāsutta
A spirit was full of faith in the nun Sukkā, so he went about the towns and villages singing the benefits of giving her offerings.
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SN 10.11
With the Nun CīrāCīrāsutta
A spirit was full of faith in the nun Cirā, so he went about the towns and villages singing the benefits of giving her offerings.
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SN 10.12
With ĀḷavakaĀḷavakasutta
The famous story of the spirit Āḷavaka, who tries to bully the Buddha, but is soon persuaded through a surprisingly insightful series of questions and answers. This discourse provided the background for several elaborate legends in the later traditions.