Anguttara-nikaya, or "Numerical Instructions of the Buddha," is the fourth of the four great collections of the Sutta Pitaka of the Pali Canon. It consists of 11 nipatas, or books, which together contain nearly ten thousand short suttas. However, most of them are repetitions with minor variations, so the number of unique texts is around four thousand. The basis of Anguttara-nikaya lies in a numerical scheme, where suttas containing a specific number of discussed points are included in the corresponding book. This facilitated easier memorization and mastery of the material in ancient times when literacy was just beginning to emerge, and all teachings were transmitted orally.
This edition of AN is divided into four volumes. Volume 1 contains an extensive preface by Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi, the author of the translation from Pali to English, as well as the first three nipatas: The Book of One, The Book of Two, The Book of Three. The themes of the suttas cover a wide range of aspects of Buddhist teachings.
