user-1: How do you find out the source of a sutta? For example, MN 109, SN 56.11 
begin

I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One

How do we know who this author is? Is there general guidance on who to attribute the suttas to?

user4742: Most of the back stories are included in the commentaries. For English readers I recommend Mr. Piya Tan's translations and commentaries which are available at www.dharmafarer.org

user254: I don't know much about this but according to Wikipedia (here and here) it was Ananda who narrated the stories in the suttas.

A council of 500 Arahats was held at Rajgir (Sanskrit: Rājagaha) to agree the contents of the Dhamma and Vinaya. Ananda recited the Suttas, such that each begins: ‘Thus have I heard’.


-1: <p>How do you find out the source of a sutta? For example, <a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.109.than.html" rel="nofollow">MN 109</a>, <a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn56/sn56.011.than.html" rel="nofollow">SN 56.11</a> 
begin</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One</p>
</blockquote>

<p>How do we know who this author is? Is there general guidance on who to attribute the suttas to?</p>
 4742: <p>Most of the back stories are included in the commentaries. For English readers I recommend Mr. Piya Tan's translations and commentaries which are available at www.dharmafarer.org</p>
 254: <p>I don't know much about this but according to Wikipedia (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Buddhist_council" rel="nofollow">here</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_councils#First_Buddhist_council_.28c._400_BCE.29" rel="nofollow">here</a>) it was Ananda who narrated the stories in the suttas.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>A council of 500 Arahats was held at Rajgir (Sanskrit: Rājagaha) to agree the contents of the Dhamma and Vinaya. Ananda recited the Suttas, such that each begins: ‘Thus have I heard’.</p>
</blockquote>
