It also refers to the scholastic method itself as well as the field of knowledge that this method is said to study.īhikkhu Bodhi calls it "an abstract and highly technical systemization of the doctrine," which is "simultaneously a philosophy, a psychology and an ethics, all integrated into the framework of a program for liberation." According to Peter Harvey, the Abhidharma method seeks "to avoid the inexactitudes of colloquial conventional language, as is sometimes found in the Suttas, and state everything in psycho-philosophically exact language." In this sense, it is an attempt to best express the Buddhist view of "ultimate reality" ( paramartha-satya). Taken together, these two interpretations clearly indicate that the term abhidharma is styled as a systematized and definitive exposition of the Dharma that is articulated in a variety of ways in the discourses of the Buddha and his immediate disciples.Abhidharma ( Sanskrit) or Abhidhamma ( Pali) are ancient (3rd century BCE and later) Buddhist texts which contain detailed scholastic presentations of doctrinal material appearing in the Buddhist sutras. Sarvastivada school, the Theravada tradition endorses the second interpretation. While the first etymology is favored by the The technical term abhidharma is a propositional compound composed of abhi and dharma, which the relevant sources endow with two principal meanings: (1) pertaining to or with regard to ( abhi) the doctrine ( dharma) (2) the highest or advanced ( abhi) doctrine ( dharma). The Buddha's authority, and at the same time proclaimed them as the ultimate teaching. Thus the Abhidharma adepts formulated an innovative scenario of Buddhist doctrines, which they placed under
![abhidharma sinhala books abhidharma sinhala books](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T7YbHYD-59o/UBFET8f3H5I/AAAAAAAAAP8/6nYYN_hZgpY/s1600/sherlock+holmes+sinhala+-+le+salakuna.jpg)
Theories and pragmatic stages of the path leading to emancipation. The Abhidharma adepts also produced innovative A clear distinction is made between dharmas that perpetuate existence or suffering, and dharmas that are conducive to the soteriological progress and attainment of the unconditioned state, nirvana. The conditioned dharmasĪre analyzed in terms of their ethical and other qualities, and arranged into taxonomic groups. The dharmas are differentiated into conditioned and unconditioned, and correlated with the threefold stratification of the cosmos. One of its seminal aspects is its focus on taxonomy of the entire spectrum of existence in terms of the ultimate realities called dharmas (factors, phenomena). In addition to safeguarding his teaching, the Abhidharma casts new horizons for classifying andĪnalyzing the phenomena of existence. In terms of doctrine, the Abhidharma does not represent a mere systematization of the Buddha's legacy. The phases that culminated in the compilation of the mature Abhidharma Pitakas, as we have them, remain enigmatic. Starting with such lists, Buddhist masters produced more lists, which they grouped and collated to form the foundation ofīuddhist doctrine and practice. Basic lists are already present in the Sutra Pitaka, for instance, in the Sangiti and Dasuttara suttas of the Dighanikaya. In terms of literature, the roots of theĪbhidharma Pitaka are often traced to mnemonic lists called matrka in Sanskrit, and matika in Pali. As such the term Abhidharma encompasses a body of literature and doctrine. Conventionally, the Abhidharma is said to provide a systematization of the Dharma taught by the Buddha, but in effect it offers more than that. However, particularly in the case of the Abhidharma texts, historical and textual studies indicate that theirĬrystallization into the Abhidharma Pitaka took several centuries after the Buddha.
![abhidharma sinhala books abhidharma sinhala books](https://online.fliphtml5.com/kkfqq/vvhx/files/large/1.jpg)
Generally, the Tripitaka ( Vinaya, Sutra, Abhidharma) is treated as the Buddha Word. His teachings induced controversies, and resulted in the fragmentation of the Sangha into schools, and the composition of sectarian Abhidharma texts. The efforts to gather his teaching resulted in due course in the collection of the Vinaya and Sutra Pitakas. It is, however, evident that the Buddha's followers made efforts to gather and systematize his teaching.
![abhidharma sinhala books abhidharma sinhala books](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b3/09/18/b30918889f50273da4e4902ff06f0056.jpg)
Early Buddhist Philosophy (Abhidharma/Abhidhamma) by Tadeusz Skorupskiĭuring the centuries after the Buddha's demise, the activities of the Sangha in India are sparsely documented.