 |
| Unravelling the Mysteries of Mind & Body |
Study of it helps us gain an understanding of how the mind (the impersonal processes that make up consciousness) works, which is essential for us to lead a happy and blameless life.
Abhidhamma is a combination of two words, Abhi and Dhamma. Abhi means "special, higher, or sublime."
Dhamma in Pali (Dharma in Sanskrit) means "universal truth or teaching."
Hence, Abhidhamma is the Special Teaching of the Buddha, grounded in truth and experiential reality.
It is not metaphysical theory, as some portray it, but rather a systematic classification and explanation of all physical and mental phenomena for earnest meditators to directly know and see and verify for themselves. Its purpose is awakening not arguing.
 |
| The author is currently leading a class |
In Abhidhamma, the ultimate realities of mind and matter that make up this so-called "being" are seen to be an impersonal stream of consciousness-moments (cittas) and infinitesimally small particles (kalapas) that continuously arise and pass away, completely dependent on causes and conditions.
Therefore, study of Abhidhamma helps us shed the painful and disappointing illusion of an "I," a permanent self or ego separate from the causes and conditions upon which the illusion relies.
To aid in the study of Abhidhamma, this book follows the axiomatic approach of Abhidhamma but also tries to put concepts, such as bhavanga, the five-door cognitive process, and the jhana cognitive process, into practical contexts.
To aid practice, two serenity meditations (Mindfulness of Breathing and the Four Elements Meditation), as well as a moment-to-moment insight meditation, are presented. More
No comments:
Post a Comment