This book is a comparative examination of the main teachings contained in the Sutranga portion
of the Pali Samyutta-nikaya (SN) and its counterpart in Chinese canon a translation of a now
lost Sanskrit Samyuktagama (Za-ahan-jing) (SA). The SN and SA are essentially two different
versions of the same collection of discourses.This study builds on the work of Yin Shun which
demonstrates the historical importance of SN SA in the formation of the early Buddhist canon.
In particular it is based on Yin Shun¿s recognition of the three-anga structure of SN SA and
of the status of its Sutranga portion as of prime importance in the historical formation of
this nikaya agama and as containing the most fundamental teachings of Buddha. The aim of this
research is to reveal and clarify the similarities and differences between SN and SA with
regard to the principal Buddhist teachings contained in their Sutranga portion.
