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 Buddhas 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 artificialwithout 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