Thai forest monk Thanissaro Bhikkhu is a prolific translator of the Pali canon, the earliest complete set of the Buddha's teachings. Than Geoff, as he is known to his students and friends, has recently printed his translation of the Sutta Nipata (“The Discourse Group”). Made up of 72 suttas in total, the Sutta Nipata contains some of the most well-known canonical poems (you may have heard, for instance, of the Metta Sutta) and presents the Buddha's thoughts on such topics as racism and classism. Despite the text's antiquity, it is particularly pertinent to today's sociopolitical climate.
Below, the monk answers four quick questions about the Sutta Nipata.
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