Name -Nang Hom Hlaing

Student id – B210089

Class – B.A second year (second semester)

School – Sariputta College Muse

Introduction to Theravada Abhidhamma

Abhihamma explains the process of birth and death in detail. Abhidhamma pitaka is the third great
division of tripitaka and historically latest one and most important one. The commentator Buddhaghosa
has explained the meaning of “Dhamma” with “Abhi” abhi-higher or special + dharma- teaching
“Dhhamatireka dhammaviseatthena atirekavisesatthadipakohi etta Abhisaddo”. It is known as special
doctrine, additional doctrine, further doctrine or extra doctrine. Abhidhammapitaka is not generally
attributed to the Buddha but for the disciples of the Buddha and great scholars. All the treaties are
designated by name of Prakarana. The title of Third pitaka has used only in the chronicals and
commentaries.

Abhidhammapitaka is highly respected particularly in Myanmar. There are several questions about
Abhidhamma is highly respected particularly in Myanmar. There are several questions about
Abhidhammapitaka. Mahasamghika School has not accepted Abhidhammapitaka with other Canonical
texts. Another school included it into Khudhakanikaya. According to G.C Pande Abhidhammapitaka grew
out of Matikas and could be found only in Theravada and Sarvastivada schools. Sharmaguptas and
Kasyapiyas also have had an Abhidhammapitaka but they were sub-schools of Mahayana.

Any attempt at establishing such an interpretation would be wititted by the fact that the order of
enumeration is not in all cases the same. Ther are seven Abhidharma treaties of Theravada tradition and
the order has been mentioned in the Milinda Panha. Those prakaranas are Dhammasangani, Vibhanga,
Dhatukatha, Puggalapannatti, Kathavatthu, Yamaka, and Patthana. Ven.Buddhaghosa has mentioned
same order in Sumangalavilasini, dihanikaya commentary. “Dhammasamgani, Vibhanga, Dhatukatha,
Puggalapannatthi, kathavatthu, Yamaka, Patthanam Abhidhammoti vuccati.

The sarvastivada Abhidhammapitaka also comprises six books know as Pada and Jnanaprasthana.

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 thoughs, thought-processes, and mental
states. Buddhism has taught psychology without a psyche from the very beginning.
The Dhamma, embodied in the Sutta Pitaka, is the conventional teaching (vohara desana), and the
Abhidhamma is the ultimate teaching (paramattha desana).

In the Abhidhamma both mind and matter are microscopically analysed. Chief events connected with
the process of birth and death are explained in detail. Intricate points of the Dhamma are clarified. The
Path of Emancipation is set forth in clear terms.

Modern Psychology, limited as it is, comes within the scope of Abhidhamma inasmuch as it deals with
the mind, with thoughts, thought-processes, and mental states, but it does not admit of a psyche or a
soul. Buddhism teaches a psycholoty without a psyche.

According to Atthasalini the commentary of Dhammasanganippakarana, Buddhaghosa says the Buddha

spent fourth week in the ‘Ratanaghara’ after the enlightenment by memorizing Abhidhamma Pitaka in
its all details. As it is mentioned above, afteer that he preached Abhidhamma to the gods of Heaven
Tavatimsa at the foot of pariccattaka tree during the visit of his mother in the heaven of the seventh
rainy season. Then he preached them to Venerable Sariputta when his daily return to earth for meal. As
far as seven treaties of Abhidhamma Pitaka are concerned, it could be seen that they are based on
Suttapitaka dealing with special topics and philosophical interpretations.

Here is a brief introduction to each and every book of Pali Abhidhamma Pitaka.

Dhammasanganipralarana: The book begins with Matika. (Summary of the Dhamma or classification of
Dhamma): Dhamma can be translated as Phenomena, ides or states……etc. The content of this book has
been divided into main four parts.

(i) Cittuppada Kanda-state of mind

(ii) Rupa Kand-material phenomena, classifying them numerically
(iii) Nikkhepa Kanda-part that avoids elaboration, explaining classification in the Matika
(iv) Attakatha Kanda-part of Supplementary Digest, gives more details

The first two parts are the most important potion of this book. The first division Cittuppada Kanda deals
with a complete enumeration of the Mind under the heading of Kusala (moral) and Akusala (immoral).
The Rupa Kanda deals with all the states of matter under heading of Abyakata Dhamma or
Asankhatadhatu (indeterminate Phenomena). The Nikkhepakhada deals with a summary of Dhamma
under the headings of the ‘dukas’ and ‘tikas’. The Matika consists altogether 122 groups, of which the
first twenty two are called the Tikas or Triads, those which are divided under three heads; and the
remaining one hundred are called the Dukas or Dyads, those which are divided under two heads. The
last division of this book is Atthakatha Kanda deals with duka and tika same as the third part. It is also a
summary of the Dhammas. This book is most popular in Sri Lanka.

Vibhangappakarana: (book of analysis or classification) This is the second book of Abhidhammapitaka

which provides a closely related foundation for the deep and proper understanding about the teaching
of the Buddha together with Dhammasangani and Dhatukatha. Vibhanga is a supplementary work to the
Dhammasangani. Dhammasangani explains what and how many khandha, ayatana, dhatu, ahara,
indriya, jhana etc. But it has not mentioned all the information about Dhammas but Vibbanga provides
complete information concerning five aggregates aspects (khandha), the physical basis of the six types
of consciousness, the physical and mental elements, the four holy truths, the twenty-two skills, the
conditional formation (Paticcasamuppada), the four right efforts, the four pillars of the senses, the self-
wells (jhana), the four immensities, customs rules, the four analytical knowledge (patisambhida), the
knowledge etc.

Vibhangappakarana is divided into eighteen chapters concerning the particular aspect of dhamma.

1. Khandha vibhanga
2. Bhojjhanga vibbanga
3. Ayatana vibhanga
4. Megga vibhanga
5. Dhatu vibhanga and so on

Each category is discussed and analyzed in three methods

1. Suttantabhajaniya- meaning of the terms and classification of the dhammas determined

according to the sutta method
2. Abhidharmabhajaniya- meaning of the terms and classification of the dhammas determined
according to the sutta methad
3. Panhapucchaka- questions and answers

Dhatukathappakarana- (Discussion of Elements-) Metting of the eighteen elements or factors of

psychophysical process: This is the third book Abhidhammapitaka and it classifies the elements of reality
according to the various levels of organizational. Dhatukatha has done a special and comprehensive
study on first three Vibhangas (Skhanda, Ayatana, Dhatu) among the eighteen fold Vibhangas of the
second book. Vibhaga has one full chapter separated to the analysis of dhatus. Khanda, dhatu and
ayatana are the subject matter of this book. Therefore Ven.Nanatiloka says that the complete name of
this book should be ‘Khanda-Ayatana-Dhatukatha”. The method of analysis in this book is different from
that employed in the Vibhanga. This book studies how the dhammas listed in the Tikas and Dukas
related to the three categories of khanda, ayatana, dhatu in their complete distribution. These Dharmas
are 114 according to Matikas; Five khandhas, twelve ayatana and eighteen dhatus. Four truths, twenty
two indriya, paticcasamuppada, Four mindfulnes etc. dhatukatha is also a supplementary book.

Puggalapannatthi: Designation of Person- (Description of the individuals according to their salient traits).
According to Abhidhamma, ther are two truths, conventional truth (sammuti sacca) and absolute truth
(paramattha sacca). Abhidhamma is mainly concerned with Absolute truth. But according to the
Dhamma, it is not possible to use only absolute term in day today communication. The first three books
of Abhidhamma investigate the absolute truth of Dhamma analyzing khanda, dhatu, ayatana, indriya,
sacca etc. But according to conventional truth such words can be used as man, woman, deva (god),
yakka, puggala (individual) etc which have no existence in reality. People are classified according to their
spiritual attainments after the manner of enumeration employed in Anguttaranikay. Here different types
of individuals are classified in ten chapters in relation to stage of Buddhist path (four ariyasavaka,
putajjana, samyakasambudda, paccekabudda, arya, anarya).

Kathavatthuppakarana: (point of controversy), this is the last and historically most important book of
Abhidhammapitaka whicch has a particular author in the whole Pali Tripitaka. This was written by
Venerable Moggaliputta Tissa discussing the controversial doctrinal points among the various Buddhist
schools after the third Buddhist convocation. Kathavattuppakarana is also an outside book of the regular
system of Abhidhammapitaka. It doesn’t follow the abstruse nature of Dhamma. It is a series of dialogue
mainly concerned with heretical point of views, such as self exists, person exists etc. there were
eighteen sects altogether after two hundred eighteen years of Buddha’s parinibbana. Among them only
Theravada Buddhist school was held the true orthodox.Others were schismatic.

Yamakappakarana: Yamaka means pair. It deals with pair of questions and each delt with in two
opposite ways (anuloma-ascending order, patiloma-descending order). The
Dhammasanaganippakarana, the Vibhangappakarana and Dhatukathaprakarana investigate the
Dhamma and their classifications as they exist in the world of reality, named Sankharaloka,
Puggalapannattippakarana and Kathavatthuppakarana deal with beings and individuals which also exist
in their own world of appparent reality, known as Sattaloka. Where the dhamma of Sankharaloka and
beings of the Sattaloda co-exist is termed the Skasaloka. Yamakappakarana deals with analyzing the
interrelationship of dhammas and puggalas as they exist in these three worlds.

Patthanappakarana: (Activation or Causes): This is the last book of seven Abhidhamma treaties. It
investigates the ultimate nature of all phenomena (dhannas) in the world. This book is a complex and
voluminious treatment of causality and twenty three other kind of relationship between phenomena,
mental or material.