Abhidhamma Papers

Essay: Abhidhamma
The Pali Canon (canonical writings of Theravada Buddhism) is in three
parts: inaya!pita"a# or rules for monastic life$ %utta!pita"a# or
discourses of the Buddha$ and Abhidhammapita"a&
Traditionally the Abhidhamma pita"a has been ascribed to the Buddha#
although scholars maintain that it dates from later periods& 't
consists of seven boo"s# and its basis can also be found in the
suttas& (ther schools# notably the %arvastivadins# have slightly
different versions of abhidhamma# although all versions agree on
essentials&
The Abhidhammattha!sangaha is a digest of the Abhidhamma!pita"a#
composed probably about eight or nine centuries ago# and is the most
used te)tboo" for abhidhamma studies& 't gives a full list of the
cittas (mental states) and cetasi"as (ingredients of citta) which are
found in the thought process by which all sensation# thin"ing and
action occurs&
't is meant for practical use in following the Eightfold Path# rather
than for abstract theori*ing& 'ts analysis of phenomena and the
thought process demonstrates anicca (impermanence) and anatta (no
permanent self)# and so promotes right understanding& By describing
citta and cetasi"a it helps in developing right concentration and
also the four foundations of mindfulness& 't thus aids the awareness
conducive to sila and to right thought and right effort&
Bill
+iscussion: Abhidhamma
According to tradition the Buddha# on the night of his enlightenment#
ascended to a heaven world and recited the whole of the abhidhamma to
his mother# in order to ma"e to her the greatest act of generosity#
the gift of dhamma& This mythical account contrasts with the
scholarly approach to the te)ts# which tries to pin down the Buddha,s
life and his teachings to specifics& Perhaps it is necessary to
balance the two approaches: the latter has the effect of narrowing
down# while the former opens and e)pands possibilities&
The term cetasi"a (paragraph three) was also discussed# and one ma-or
difficulty proved to be finding a suitable translation ! as for many
terms in abhidhamma& The word comes from the same root as citta#
,cit,# which means ,thin",& ,!i"a, means ,belonging to,& Cetasi"a is
that which supports citta& English has no ade.uate translation for
the word& ,Property, of mind has too many connotations of possession
to be accurate& 'n this boo" we have used the translation ,mental
factor,$ if rather meaningless# it is at least neutral& But other
words can also be used to give the feel of the term# such as the
translation ,ingredients, used in the present essay&
'n the last paragraph# the point is made that "nowledge of anicca and
anatta are closely connected# and thus right understanding is
promoted& The .uestion was raised as to how they were connected&
%ince there is no phenomenon or thought process which is permanent#
there is nothing which can be identified as a permanent self:
realisation of this therefore promotes right understanding& A similar
e)ample of the usefulness of abhidhamma is the way in which it helps
develop right concentration# by the reading# for e)ample# of its
description of -hana factors or the different attributes of certain
states of mind& %uch "nowledge ma"es it easier to return to a level
of concentration which has been e)perienced&