Minowani's Writings

on what the Buddha taught

Sutta is often translated as discourse.

Before we start, here is not a problem to fix, no misunderstanding involved, and in that sense it is a bit odd to place it in Transicalities. But it is the closest fitting place. Discourse is to me more an interpretation than a translation and I noticed that in speech I mostly kept using sutta instead.

A sutta is according to the dictionary a thread, amongst other things, and it is by its usage that it is translated as discourse, dialogue, text, scripture, etc. A funny thing is that recently I heard someone speak about a thread as to start or be involved in conversation, and its meaning was understood. I assume it is because of internet discussion forums, emails, and so on where messages and replies are grouped, named threads. And if this is already so used in everyday speech I feel quite comfortable to use it here then too.

Sutta (nt.) thread.