Theravada Abhidhamma 2007 UK

Historical background of the Theravada Abhidhamma

Theravavada Abhiddhamma is the earliest step of the interpretation of early Buddhism. During the time of the Buddha there was no such word “Abhiddhamma”. The word is generally known as the ‘Dhamma’. The term “Abhiddhamma” with the prefix “Abhi” indicates the explanation on Dhamma. So it is clearly seen that the term Abhiddham was used in the later period by the learned disciples of the Buddha.

During the life time of the Buddha all discourses were preached for the benefit of different persons on different occasions. Therefore all those discourses were not arranged in a systematic order. The problems regarding the doctrinal matters among the disciples were solved by the Buddha Himself. After the passing away of the Buddha there arose many problems, and the later disciples also tried to interpret the Buddha teachings in different ways and used in different methods.

The Buddha’s teachings were handed down orally through the succession of teachers. Serious attention was not given for the proper preservation of his actual words, not to speak of their interpretations. Immediately after the MahAparinibbAna of the Buddha, a Council was held for the recital of the Buddhist scriptures.

As far as the historical background of the Theravada Abhiddham is concerned, the Three Buddhist Councils are very important to show the facts. At the First Buddhist Council, started to correct, classify, and abstract the teachings of the Buddha according to their plans. As result of this Council, Dhamma and Vinaya were settled, and the Abhiddhamma had no separate existence.

The Second Buddhist Council, it was held in which the rules of morality were discussed. The violation of the Vinaya rules enjoyed on the monks was the subject of discussion at this Council. They started to correct, classify, and abstract the teachings of the Buddha like First Council. We, however, find no mention of the Abhidhamma as having been discussed in this Council.

Although the Dhammas were corrected, classified and abstracted there arose the problem that how to understand these doctrinal terms. Then in order to understand such problems they started to analyze the definition them again, by following very artificial- without reference to story, simile, or by using highly technical or impersonal language.

There was another Buddhist Council called the third Buddhist Council held about more than two hundred years after the great demise of the Buddha. The texts of the Sutta and Vinaya were rehearsed and settled and the Abhidhimma was recognized as a part of the Canon. there were a large number of such analyses of discourses in addition to early Buddhist discourses. The distinguished Buddhist monk Moggaliputta Tissa who was the president of this Council compiled the KathAvatthu which stands out as a great book of Buddhist controversies of the time. Dhamma and Vinaya which had been the two divisions of the Buddhist scriptures were divided into three parts in the Council- the Sutta, the Vinaya and the Abhidhamma. The Dhamma was thus divided into two parts; the SuttaPitaka and the AbhidhammaPitaka.

The Abhiddhamma consists of 7 books as follows: DhammasaNganI , VibhaNga, DhAtukathA, PuggalapaGGatti, KathAvatthu, Yamaka and PaTThAna

The DhammasNgaBI, Vibhanga, DhAtukathA, PuggalapaGGatti and Yamaka generally deal with the analysis of phenomena and the PaTThAna with synthesis.

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Theravada Abhidhamma 2007 UK