Abhidharma

ŭbˈĭdŭrˌmə [Skt.,=higher dharma, or doctrine], schools of Buddhist philosophy. Early Buddhism analyzed experience into 5 skandhas or aggregates, and alternatively into 18 dhatus or elements. Later schools developed the process of analysis and classification that was called Abhidharma; their treatises were collected in the Abhidharmapitaka, one of the three main divisions of the Pali Buddhist canon (see Buddhist Tripitaka, Pali canon). The five skandhas analyzed experience to demonstrate the absence of an abiding "self." The categories of analysis were dharmas, or natures, ultimate qualities or principles that arise and pass away in irreducible moments of time. Lists of dharmas varied from 75 to 157, with different schools classifying the dharmas into different groups, and the exact definition of a dharma eventually became the subject of great controversy. The greatest systematizer of Abhidharma thought was Vasubandhu (5th cent. a.d.), who wrote the encyclopedic Abhidharma-kosa or Treasury of Abhidharma.

See H. Guenther, Philosophy and Psychology in the Abhidharma (1957); T. Stcherbatsky, The Central Conception of Buddhism (4th ed. 1970).

(Source: Columbia 2004: Entry 159, http://www.bartleby.com/65/ab/Abhidhar.html)

The Abhidharma is the third of the three divisions or "baskets" of the Tripitaka or Buddhist Canon. Its Dharma is organized thematically and logically; it can be said to be a systematic exposition of Buddhist psychology of mind.

The Abhidharma taught by the Buddha is the seven books of the Abhidharma-pitaka. Later Abhidharma includes systematic treatises by enlightened masters. The most well-known of the Hinayana Abhidharma treatises is the Abhidharma-kosa by the Venerable Vasubandhu (see entry). Among the most widely studied of Mahayana Abhidharma treatises is the Treatise on Consciousness Only (Cheng Wei-shi Lun) by Tripitaka Master Xuanzang (see entry).

According to the Abhidharmakosa "Abhidharma is the immaculate prajna [i.e., wisdom] with its retinue." (Jha, p. 5) "In common use, the Abhidharma designates all prajna that makes one obtain the Abhidharma in its proper sense." (Jha, p. 7)

"Abhi" means "paired", and "dharma", which is variously translated, is of two types: one, Dharma in the supreme sense, that is, nirvana, which is both wholesome and permanent, and so is called "supreme"; two, dharma of dharma marks, which coincides with the Four Sagely Truths . . . . (FAS-PII 97)

The paired Dharma Store has the special name "wisdom shastra". The old translation [into Chinese] means "incomparable dharma". That is because it portrays wisdom as supreme. (FAS-PII 103)

1) Chinese Mandarin: a bi da mo °þ¹G·fºN, lun±Á, 2) Sanskrit: abhidharma, 3) Pali: abhidhamma, 4) Alternate Translations: paired dharma, incomparable dharma, special Dharma, higher knowledge. 5) Tibetan: chos mngon pa

Source for Tibetan word: http://www.namsebangdzo.com/Abhidharmasamuccaya_Traleg_Rinpoche_p/g00005.htm

See also: Tripitaka (1. Sutras, 2. Vinaya, 3. Shastras or Abhidharma, or Tantra), Taisho Catalog Numbering System, Dharma, and names of individual sutras (such as Shurangama Sutra, Avatamsaka Sutra [Flower Adornment Sutra], Lotus Sutra [Wonderful Dharma Flower Sutra], Earth Store Sutra, Dharani Sutra, Brahma Net Sutra, Medicine Master Buddha Sutra, Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra, Vajracchedika Prajna Paramita Diamond, Sixth Patriarch Platform Sutra, Sutra in 42 Sections, Sutra on the Buddha's Bequeathed Teaching, Vimalakirti Nirdesha Sutra, et al. Schools: Hwa-Yen School, Tyan-tai School

Buddhist Text Translation Society (http://www.BTTSonline.org) References: FAS-PII 97-108.

(Source: Epstein, 2003: p. 2)

(NOTE: Numerous corrections and enhancements have been made under Shastra tradition and "Fair Use" by an Anonymous Buddhist Monk Redactor (Compiler) of this Online Buddhist Encyclopedia Compilation)

Abhidharma: (Sanskrit) One of the three divisions of the Buddhist canon, consisting of doctrinal commentary. Dharma means the Law or truth and abhi means to, toward or upon. Abhidharma thus means study of the Law, that is, doctrinal study of the sutras. After the fourth century B.C., repeated schisms occurred in the Buddhist Order, and eighteen or twenty schools were eventually formed. Many of these schools made intense efforts at systematic interpretation of the sutras, and the results of their study were compiled in the abhidharma works. Doctrinal study of this kind was promoted in particular by the Sarvastivada school, the most influential of the Hinayana schools. As a result, the Sarvastivadins produced many abhidharma works. One of major importance was the Abidatsuma Hotchi Ron, written by Katyayaniputra in the second century B.C., which contributed greatly to the development of Sarvastivada thought and formed a basis for subsequent study. Thereafter, as a result of some two hundred years of study of the Hotchi Ron and other abhidharmas, the massive two-hundred-fascicle Abhidharma Daibibasha Ron, which takes the form of a commentary on the Hotchi Ron, was compiled. The Abhidharma Kusha Ron of Vasubandhu (fourth or fifth century A.D.) is often regarded as the pinnacle of abhidharma literature. Because it contains a comprehensive discussion of the Sarvastivada doctrines and also cites the interpretations of a number of other schools, it is invaluable in the study of the abhidharma in general. Very few of the Sanskrit originals of the abhidharmas remain in existence; most are chiefly known through Chinese translations. The present Theravada school of Southern Buddhism has a collection of seven Pali works which compose the Abhidharma of this school.
Source: Dictionary of Buddhist Terms and Concepts

Source: http://www.sgi-usa.org/cgi-bin/lexicon.cgi?exact=on&term=Abhidharma

: Search Results

(mwd)	=	Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon
(cap)	=	Capeller's Sanskrit-English Dictionary
(otl)	=	Cologne Online Tamil Lexicon
(cpd)	=	Concise Pahlavi Dictionary

(mwd)

abhidharma

m. the dogmas of Buddhist philosophy or metaphysics.

: Search Results

(mwd)	=	Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon
(cap)	=	Capeller's Sanskrit-English Dictionary
(otl)	=	Cologne Online Tamil Lexicon
(cpd)	=	Concise Pahlavi Dictionary

1	(mwd)	abhi	ind. (a prefix to verbs and nouns , expressing) to , towards , into , over , upon. (As a prefix to verbs of motion) it expresses the notion or going towards , approaching , &c. (As a prefix to nouns not derived from verbs) it expresses superiority , intensity , &c. ; e.g. %{abhi-tAmra} , %{abhi-nava} q.v. (As a separate adverb or preposition) it expresses (with acc.) to , towards , in the direction of , against ; into S3Br. and Ka1tyS3r. ; for , for the sake of ; on account of ; on , upon , with regard to , by , before , in front of ; over. It may even express one after the other , severally Pa1n2. 1-4 , 91 e.g. %{vRkSaM@vRkSam@abhi} , tree after tree [cf. Gk. $ ; Lat. {ob} ; Zend &18820[61 ,1] {aibi} , {aiwi} ; Goth. {bi} ; Old High Germ. {bi1}].
2	(mwd)	abhI	1 mfn. fearless R. Ragh.
3	(mwd)	abhI	2 ( %{i}) , %{abhy-e4ti} (Imper. 2. sg. %{abhI74hi} ; impf. 3. pl. %{-Ayan} , 3. sg. A1. %{-Ayata} ; ind. p. %{abhI74tya}) to come near , approach , go up to or towards (acc.) RV. &c. ; (with %{sakAzam} or %{samIpam} or %{pArzve}) id. Pan5cat. ; to go along or after (acc.) RV. &c. ; to enter , join , go over to Mn. Bhat2t2. ; (with a pr. p.) to begin to , (perf. 3. pl. %{abhI7yu4H}) S3Br. ; to reach , obtain RV. &c. ; to get or fall into (acc.) MBh. &c. ; to come to , fall to one's share (with acc.) Bhat2t2. ; (said of the sun) to rise (as if he came nearer ; also with %{abhitarAm} [q. v.] instead of %{abhi}) AitBr. , (with %{astam}) to set MBh. i , 1797 (cf. %{abhy-aya}): Pass. %{abhI7yate} , to be perceived , known BhP.: Intens. (1. pl. %{-Imahe}) to ask , request RV. i , 24 , 3.
4	(cap)	abhi	adv. to, unto, near (comp. {abhitara3m} or {-rA3m} nearer); towards, against; as prep. the same+into, for, for the sake of, over, above, concerning, about (acc.); without, except (abl.).

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See also: Tripitaka (1. Sutras, 2. Vinaya, 3. Shastras or Abhidharma, or Tantra), Taisho Catalog Numbering System, Dharma, and names of individual sutras (such as Shurangama Sutra, Avatamsaka Sutra [Flower Adornment Sutra], Lotus Sutra [Wonderful Dharma Flower Sutra], Earth Store Sutra, Dharani Sutra, Brahma Net Sutra, Medicine Master Buddha Sutra, Sixth Patriarch Platform Sutra, Sutra in 42 Sections, Sutra on the Buddha's Bequeathed Teaching, et al.

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Compilation Sources for the Above Material on the Teachings of the Buddha:

Primary Compilation Source: Epstein, Ronald B., Ph.D, compiler, Buddhist Text Translation Society's Buddhism A to Z, Burlingame, California: Buddhist Text Translation Society, 2003. ISBN: 0881393533 Paperback: 284 pages. www.BTTSOnline.org www.Amazon.com
http://www.bttsonline.org/product.aspx?pid=118 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0881393533/ref=ase_medicinebuddh-20

Secondary Compilation Source: The Seeker’s Glossary of Buddhism, 2nd ed., San Francisco, California: Sutra Translation Committee of the United States and Canada, 1998: www.budaedu.org.tw

Secondary Compilation Source: Muller, Charles, editor, Digital Dictionary of Buddhism [DDB], Toyo Gakuen University, Japan, 2007: Username is "guest", with no password.
http://buddhism-dict.net/ddb - Based in large part on the Dictionary of Chinese Buddhist Terms with Sanskrit and English Equivalents (by Soothill and Hodous) Delhi, India: Motilal Banarsidass, 1997.

Secondary Compilation Source: Ehrhard, Diener, Fischer, et al, The Shambhala Dictionary of Buddhism and Zen, Boston, Massachusetts: Shambhala Publications, 1991. 296 pages. ISBN 978-0-87773-520-5 www.Shambhala.com, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0877735204/ref=ase_medicinebuddh-20,
http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/items/isbn/978-0-87773-520-5.cfm

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Updated May 10, 2008