The Abhidhamma Sutta

A lot of people talk about the "Abhidhamma sutta" in a very casual way and most people are frightened to hear even the word "abhidhamma". They think it is hard to grasp and boring to read.

However, in actual fact, I have found the study of Abhidhamma to be one of the most fascinating subjects of study for me. I never had the opportunity to study "psychology" in an academic setting, i.e. I never had the chance to go to a university and study "psychology". Therefore, I decided to do the next best thing; I bought a book from the "dummies series" and got a book called "Psychology for Dummies".

Here are the main books that form the collection of subjects for the "Abhidhamma Sutta"

1. Dhammasangani ("Enumeration of Phenomena").
2. Vibhanga ("The Book of Treatises").
3. Dhatukatha ("Discussion with Reference to the Elements").
4. Puggalapaññatti ("Description of Individuals").
5. Kathavatthu ("Points of Controversy").
6. Yamaka ("The Book of Pairs").
7. Patthana ("The Book of Relations").

I will deal with each of these books at a later date.

Ref: Access to Insight website (www.accesstoinsight.org)

Note: For those who are new to the study of Buddhism in general and Theravada Buddhism in particular, this website called "Access to Insight" is a wonderful reference source containing many writings by Buddhist monks and lay scholars. I have found it to be very useful in my study of Buddhism in the English language.

A sermon fit for the devas - the Abhidhamma sutta (mind, consciousness, matter and nivrana)

Do you know where the Abhidhamma sutta was delivered? It was delivered in Tusita deva plane (loka or world) for the benefi 0f the male deva (who used to be the mother of Prince Siddarhta).

The mother of Prince Siddarhta (Maya Devi, and wife of King Subdodana) passed away seven days after giving birth to him. After this Maya Devi became a male deva in Tusita deva plane.

Mind, Consciousness, Matter and Nivarna

So what is Abhidhamma about? That is what many of my friends, young and old ask me. To give you the authentic answer from the teachings of Theravada Buddhism, I would certainly have to answer in Pali.

Pali, by the way is an ancient language of India. (that was used during the time of Gautama Buddha. Another language used during that time was Sanskrit.)

In the book called "Abhidhamma Sanghaha" it is written thus:

1. Seitam
2. Cetesitam
3. Rupan
4. Nibbanam

In plain Burmese it translates as:

1. Seit
2. Seitatheik
3. Yoke
4. Nibban

According to the traditional Buddhist scriptures, "Seit" or "Mind" means the ability to know. It also means the function "to know".

For example, a stone does not have the ability "to know" but a man or an animal like a dog has the ability "to know" because both have "Seit" or "Mind".