I'm about to read the entire Pali suttas. I have the four Nikayas editions published by Wisdom Publications, which I have in book form as well as the Kindle eBook format. Thus far, I've read perhaps under a couple of dozen suttas that I thought were key, and many commentaries on them by various Theravadan authors.
I have these questions:
1) How should one go about reading the Nikayas?
My father used to read books by the grocery bag, but when he was done he had nothing to say about what he read. I think to much reading, or reading philosophy too fast, just leads nowhere. So, I recommend reading some religious text every day, but maybe just 1 page, or one chapter/sutta. The best time to read religious literature is just before meditation, so that it might inspire, instruct, etc. This is how I read the suttas.
2) Is there an order in which they should be read?
Dhigha, Majjhima, Samyutta, then Anguttara.
3) What are the absolutely essential suttas to read?
That is a long list, but the ones that I call the
Phala Nikaya form a cohesive and cogent package for the aspiring mystic.
4) What are the suttas that are bogus, and other that aren't worth reading?
There are too many to list, but know that in any religious literature the truth goes down proportional to the fantastic. So, when there are lots of miracles in any religious literature, then turn to another sutta/chapter.
5) Are there any good commentaries on the suttas?
None that I have found. It is also recommended to read the Visuddhimagga first; however, I am sure if you do, then you will be confused, so do not bother wasting your time with the Visuddhimagga.
