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A Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma

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I heard that this book is supposed to be an *introduction* to the Abhidhamma. I heard that in Burma, this text must be memorized before one will have the opportunity to study from the Abhidhamma masters. The original canonical Abhidhamma is supposed to go into thousands of pages, with the commentaries adding more pages. However, Acariya Anuruddha managed to squeeze practically ALL of the accumulated and developed Abhidhamma doctrine from the time of Emperor Asoka (3rd century BCE) to the 12th century CE (1500 years!) into about 50 pages!!!

Needless to say, this text was renowned for being not only extremely comprehensive, but incredibly concise (perhaps "compressed" is a better word). Various English translations, most notably the Ven. Narada version came and went. Bhikkhu Bodhi had outdone himself in this translation, since he included extensive diagrams of the matika (matrix) and was also supported by two Burmese monks. His own commentary was extremely helpful in deciphering this heavy, difficult (but not impossible) text.

I don't think there was any topic of the Abhidhamma which was missed in this text. It's all here! Not only are there the categories of consciousness, mental factors, matter, etc., but there are two extremely interesting chapters on the cognitive and rebirth processes. There are also sections on karma, pannati (concepts), and the Unconditioned Itself (Nibbana). Anyone reading this will walk away knowing more about the Abhidhamma than most other people. If you're a meditator, then this book is a MUST because it provides a general framework of study, as well as potential meditation objects.

Though the advice of Achaan Chah about studying one's own heart rather than Abhidhamma should be kept in mind like a shining star when tackling anything regarding it, still the reading of this book may provide a framework for one's own mind where to insert experiences: one in which conventional items may not be needed for their comprehension.
A final line: of course meditate, let go of the unwholesome factors, cultivate the wholesome ones and purificate you mind, but also consider buying this book and dedicate the high degree of attention it needs to be understood and perhaps the world will look even a little more different than usual afterwards :-)

You need to enter that book slowly and then let it guide you at the pace that will be proper for you. It is long, complex and extremely profound. You may not understand the Pali text but you will understand the commentary and notes. There is, first of all, a vision of the world and of man in the world as a complete continuum of many parameters that create permanent change and movement.

At each moment we lose something and we gain something else. At each moment we may grieve because of the loss, or rejoice because of the gain. Dukkha, the long process of change and decay that leads to death also contains the necessary forces and qualities that our mind can use to gain wisdom and clear knowledge at every moment of this road of decay. And that's the real challenge Buddhism contains.

Every single person, if they want, can decide to use their minds to push away the negative parameters that lock them up in decay, and develop the positive parameters that lead them to realizing that all is change, all is dissatisfaction in a way or another, all is the absence of an eternal godlike soul in us. The only chance we have to evade this path that leads to death is to cultivate our mind and get on the path of mental liberation, of enlightenment, of sukha.

The book contains beautiful pages that are ahead of their times on time, language, the « flippant » personality of a subject that is changing all the time and how he can try to control and dominate the change by preparing his escape from it. This is the paradox of the book . There is no escape from this slow movement towards death through the death of each instant and the birth of the next one. And yet there is a way to go beyond and reach nirvana, a pure mental existence completely oblivious of the world and the body.

As it is so justly said in note 7 in chapter IX, this is a hypnotic circle. You are self-hypnotizing yourself into nirvanic bliss. And that should enable you to get free of all ties, fetters and other chains and become ready to serve the world and others in order to improve reality and make the decaying process less painful, free of violence and war, free of greed, free of alienation. The Buddha, the Blessed One, imagined a way to improve the world by improving human individuals. But hurry up because there is still a lot to do to ban violence, war, greed, alienation, ignorance and poverty from this world. You feel optimistic when you reach the last page.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU

Loved it! It is really "comprehensive" as the title indicated. It also comes with many useful tables. A useful tool if you are doing research on the Abhidhamma.

an explanation of the buddhas in depth teachings on the mind and reality. it breaks down reality into tiny pieces and explains them one by one. i've never read anything so thought provoking.

I am just the amature of learning about the meditation practice of Budda's teaching and trying to find the good books. It will be a while for me to finish the reviewing in a short time. This is to persue forever. I am trying to understand all the teaching. But I will say this is a very very high standard of teaching of the practice of meditation & to live the whole life.

I buy alot of Dhamma books.I think this is one of the best I have ever bought.It is like a hand book.I have been looking for a book like this for a long time.It,s is great!