Daham Asapuwa

Abhidhamma is the Higher Teaching of the Buddha, sometimes referred to as the ultimate teaching (paramattha desanà). In it, man is described as a psycho-physical being consisting of both mind and matter, and it gives a microscopic analysis of the human being.

Abhidhamma explains the process of birth and death in detail. In addition to defining consciousness, it also analyses and classifies thoughts mainly from an ethical standpoint. Various types of consciousness are also set forth in detail, as they arise through the six sense-doors. Modern psychology has begun to acknowledge that it comes within the scope of Abhidhamma for the reason that it deals with the mind, with thoughts, thought-processes, and mental states. Buddhism has, from the very beginning, taught psychology without a psyche.

(more…)

The Abhidhamma Pitaka, or the Philosophical Collection, forms the third great section of the Buddhist Pàli Canon (Tipitaka). In its most characteristic parts it is a system of classifications, analytical enumerations and definitions, with no discursive treatment of the subject matter. In particular its two most important books, the Dhammasangaõã and the Paññhàna, have the appearance of huge collections of systematically arranged tabulations, accompanied by definitions of the terms used in the tables. This, one would expect, is a type of literature scarcely likely to gain much popular appreciation.

Yet there is the fact that the Abhidhamma was, and is, highly esteemed and even venerated in the countries of Theravàda Buddhism. Two examples taken from the chronicles of Ceylon illustrate that high regard for the Abhidhamma. In the 10th century A.C., on the order of King Kassapa V of Ceylon, the whole Abhidhamma Piñaka was inscribed on gold plates, and the first of these books, the Dhammasangaõã, was set with jewels. When the work was completed, the precious manuscripts were taken in a huge procession to a beautiful monastery and deposited there.

(more…)