SahayaBuddhist Companion
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How to use Sahaya

Sahaya has four parts:

  1. Sutta Library — read the teachings
  2. Companion — ask questions and get sutta-based pointers
  3. Quick Guides — short, practical explanations of core concepts
  4. My Library (logged-in users) — keep track of what you're reading and what matters to you

You can use any part on its own, but the best results come from using them together.

The 30-second learning loop

  1. Ask Companion a real question (something you're actually dealing with).
  2. Open the recommended sutta.
  3. Read the Sutta (or switch to Modern if the wording feels heavy).
  4. Use Guidance to see the main points and how they apply.
  5. Follow "Read next" if you want to go deeper.
  6. Stop when the mind feels clearer — don't turn it into homework.

The four tabs (what each one is for)

1) Sutta

The main translation in readable English.

Use it when you want the full discourse.

2) Modern

A plain-English paraphrase of the same content.

Use it when you're new, tired, or want a clean overview first.

3) Guidance (not part of the sutta)

A friendly, practice-oriented outline of the key teachings.

Use it to catch the main points and see "how this applies" without guessing.

Important: Guidance stays close to what the sutta actually says. It's an aid, not a replacement.

4) Pāli+

The original text and links to respected translations so you can compare sources.

Use it if you like checking key terms or verifying phrasing.

Quick Guides

Quick Guides are short, plain-English explanations of core teachings — written for practice, not just understanding.

Use them when you want a clean starting point on a topic (e.g. craving, equanimity, precepts, impermanence), or when you want words for something you're already noticing in your life.

Using the Sutta Library tools

On each sutta page you can:

  • Favourite a sutta (so it's easy to find again)
  • Share a sutta (send a link to a friend)
  • Mark as read (to keep track of what you've worked through)

These are simple tools, but they make a big difference over time.

My Library (logged-in users only)

My Library is where you keep your own trail through the teachings:

Favourites

A list of suttas you've starred as important.

Saved excerpts

Highlight text while reading to save passages that resonate.

Saved excerpts are private and only visible to you.

Lists

Create reading lists for your own projects (e.g. "Retreat prep", "Anger", "Grief").

Lists can be private, or you can make a list public and share it with a link.

How to search the Sutta Library

You can search by:

  • sutta ID (e.g. "MN 10", "SN 36.6")
  • title (e.g. "Satipatthana")
  • topic words (e.g. "anger", "restlessness", "impermanence")

If you're not sure what to search, start in Companion and let it recommend a sutta.

If you want a deeper session (10–20 minutes)

  1. Ask one question in Companion
  2. Read one sutta + Guidance
  3. Follow one "Read next"
  4. Finish by reading the Modern tab on the last sutta

That's usually enough for one sitting.

Supporting Sahaya (Dāna)

Sahaya is offered freely — no ads, no tracking, no premium tiers.

If you'd like to support it, the Dāna page explains what contributions help cover (translation/publishing, Companion costs, hosting).

Any amount helps keep Sahaya freely available.

→ Browse the Sutta Library