Introduction to the Module B

with Gil Fronsdal, PhD and Diana Clark, PhD

About the Course

A one of a kind course that offers a deeper appreciation and understanding of this fundamental text of the Pāli Canon as well as an opportunity to deepen practice through studying the words and life of the Buddha.

The Middle Length Discourses course with Gil Fronsdal and Diana Clark was originally held over Zoom beginning in the summer of 2021 and ran through May 2023. It consisted of 49 classes and covered approximately 50 suttas, or about a third, of the 152 suttas in the Majjhima Nikāya. 

Each class of this self-paced, asynchronous course consists of video introductions to the sutta that will be discussed, a study guide to help you approach the sutta, various audio lectures by Gil Fronsdal and Diana Clark addressing topics in the sutta, a Q&A period with questions from students like yourself, and a reflection question to offer an opportunity to engage with the sutta in your own way.

Rather than going the suttas sequentially, the course is designed thematically to take you on a journey through the Middle Length Discourses in order to help you better understand and appreciate this essential work in Theravada Buddhism.

The themes include:
  • Relating to the Teachings
  • Faith
  • The Path
  • The Buddha
  • Karma
  • Rebirth
  • Training & Effort
  • Community
  • Happiness & Pleasure
  • Mindfulness
  • Concentration
  • Wisdom 
  • Attainments
  • Nibbāna


Part B of the course covers three themes (The Buddha, Karma, and Rebirth). The remainder of the themes will be covered in subsequent courses. We envision that the overall course will consist of 4 parts.

Why Study the Middle Length Discourses?

The Middle Length Discourses is one of the most important collections of the Buddha'steachings. No other source has a comparable range and profundity of early Buddhistteachings couched in rich, human encounters and events. These suttas provide context forwhen and why particular teachings were given. The narrative stories introduce us to theBuddha, many of his disciples, and a host of other people. As such, it purports to be arecord of the birth of the living tradition of Buddhism that has continued to this day.

The Middle Length Discourses contain many of early Buddhism's most powerful teachings. In it are the most comprehensive instructions for meditation practice found within the early Buddhist scriptures. The text also has important passages on topics like faith, karma, emptiness, dependent arising, and the nature of the Buddhist path and awakening. For Buddhist practitioners, it provides a wealth of instruction, support, and challenges to develop one's practice. For scholars, it provides a window into the full range of spiritual/religious concerns of ancient Buddhists.

Course curriculum

    1. Introduction to Exploring the Buddha's Middle Length Discourses Course - Module B

    1. Introduction to "The Buddha"

    2. Class 13: MN 26 Discourse on the Noble Search

    3. Class 14: MN 4 Discourse on Fear and Dread

    4. Class 15: MN 36 Greater Discourse to Saccaka

    5. Class 16: MN 72 & MN 12 Discourse to Vacchagotta on Fire / Greater Discourse on the Lion's Roar

    6. Class 17: MM 123 Discourse on Wonderful and Marvelous

    7. Class 18: MN 91 The Brahmayu Sutta

    1. Introduction to "Karma"

    2. Class 19: MN 98 Discourse to Vāsettha

    3. Class 20: MN 61 Discourse on Advice to Rahula

    4. Class 21: MN 86 Angulimala Sutta

    5. Class 22: MN 60 Discourse on the Incontrovertible Teaching

    1. Introduction to "Rebirth'

    2. Class 23: MN 41 Discourse to the Brahmins of Sala

    3. Class 24: MN 135 Shorter Exposition of Action

    4. Class 25: MN 136 Greater Exposition of Karma

About this course

  • 17 lessons
  • 7+ Hours of Audio Lectures
    3+ Hours Q&A Audio
  • 16 Video Lectures
  • 19 Sutta Study Guides

Course Price Options

The course is offered on a sliding scale:

The Base level tuition is intended to support the course instructors and pay expenses that make courses such as this at the Sati Center possible.

As a Benefactor, you can offer support for your fellow practitioners.

The Reduced level is a subsidized rate to help make this course more accessible.

Please consider offering generously within your means.

Canadian students should use PayPal for payments.

What Are Students Saying:

5 star rating

Sucha great course. The MN suttas are the most accessible to a non-scholar like me, and I just loved the guidance from Gil F and Diana C.

Claire Rothman

Wonderful. The suttas are great and profound texts, and the materials provided by our teachers were clear, helpful, and provocative of thought and questioning.

Wonderful. The suttas are great and profound texts, and the materials provided by our teachers were clear, helpful, and provocative of thought and questioning.

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5 star rating

Making the Majjhima Nikaya Clear and Compelling

Michele Topel

I've avoided reading the Majjhima Nikya for years, believing it would be obscure and incomprehensible. However Gil and Diana have made these essential teachings accessible, easy to understand, and have done so with humor and insight. I've unexpect...

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I've avoided reading the Majjhima Nikya for years, believing it would be obscure and incomprehensible. However Gil and Diana have made these essential teachings accessible, easy to understand, and have done so with humor and insight. I've unexpectedly become quite enthusiastic about reading and learning more about the suttas, and applying their principles in practice. An excellent course that i would highly recommend to anyone wanting to better understand the teachings of the Buddha.

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5 star rating

Excellent way to deepen your practice

Deanna Befus

This opportunity to study suttas with Gil and Diana has been a wonderful way to expand my practice and demystify the Majjhima Nikaya. Whether you are a beginner or experienced practitioner, and even if you've studied suttas before, I think you'll ...

Read More

This opportunity to study suttas with Gil and Diana has been a wonderful way to expand my practice and demystify the Majjhima Nikaya. Whether you are a beginner or experienced practitioner, and even if you've studied suttas before, I think you'll get a lot out of this course. Gil and Diana are both scholars of Pali and Buddhism. Each brings their own expertise and the results are a fulsome, contextualized, thoughtful exploration that manages to be intelligent and accessible. I'm doing the course with a small group of friends, and the reflection questions that are offered with each sutta are great starting points for discussion. It's been so enjoyable that sometimes I don't realize how much I'm learning! This course is a unique offering at an incredible value (elsewhere, something like this would cost 2-3x as much). Highly recommended, absolutely worth it.

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Instructors

Gil Fronsdal, PhD

Gil Fronsdal is the senior guiding co-teacher at the Insight Meditation Center (IMC) in Redwood City, California, the Insight Retreat Center in Santa Cruz, California, as well as the AudioDharma website and podcast. He started Buddhist practice in 1975, and has been teaching for IMC since 1990. Gil is an authorized teacher in two traditions: the Insight Meditation lineage of Theravada Buddhism of Southeast Asia, and Japanese Soto Zen. He holds a Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies from Stanford. He is the translator and author of multiple books, including the Dhammapada and The Buddha Before Buddhism: Wisdom from the Early Teachings.

Diana Clark, PhD

Diana Clark, PhD is a dedicated dharma teacher based in the San Francisco Bay Area, teaching primarily at the Insight Meditation Center, Insight Retreat Center and the Sati Center. Her extensive meditation experience includes years of silent retreats at Spirit Rock and the Insight Meditation Society. Formerly she was an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Buddhist Studies, teaching courses on Theravada Buddhism, including a number of courses on the suttas in the Pali Canon and Pali. She has a PhD in Biochemistry and a MA in Buddhist Studies. Much like her scientific training facilitated her comprehension of the human body, her Buddhist studies and practice deepen her insights into the workings of our minds and hearts.