FREE: The 'Higher Doctrine' (Abhidhamma)

 

Unraveling the Mysteries of Mind

and Body through Abhidhamma

AUTHOR: Sayalay Susila

EDITOR: Dhr. Seven (Wisdom Quarterly)

FOREWORD: Pa-Auk Tawya Sayadaw Bhaddanta Accina

Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammāsambuddhassa

("Homage to the Exalted, the Worthy, the Supremely Self-Awakened One").

INTRODUCTION

Unravelling Abhidhamma

"Mind leads the world" (Dhp 1). Is this really true? Only when we understand how the mind works will we truly know. Mind is something close to us yet very far away. Mind is the culprit behind all of our unwholesome karma (thought, speech, deed), yet it is also the director of all of our skillful, wholesome behavior, deeds that soothe the heart.

The study of Abhidhamma helps us gain an understanding of how the mind works, which is essential for us to lead happy and blameless lives. In Abhidhamma, the ultimate realities of mind and matter that make up this so-called "living being" are seen to be an impersonal stream of consciousness-moments and infinitesimally small particles that continuously arise and pass away utterly dependent on causes and conditions.

So the study of Abhidhamma helps the mind shed the painful illusion of there being an “I,” a permanent self persisting through all experiences.

Most of the problems of life spring from ignorance and craving associated with this “I” and the self-centeredness that is its offspring. When the mind understands that there is, in an ultimate sense, no such “I,” it will let go of intense clinging.

The truth sets us free. To be more precise, knowing-and-seeing what is ultimately true sets us free. Life’s problems suddenly evaporate. All becomes light. We awaken to truth and are freed from all forms of suffering.

This can be accomplished through a thorough study of Abhidhamma and practical meditation experiences.

The Abhidhamma Pitaka is one of the "three baskets" (tipitaka), the three divisions of the Buddha’s teachings. Abhidhamma is a combination of two terms, abhi ("higher, special, sublime") and Dhamma ("universal truth or teaching"). Therefore, Abhidhamma is the "higher teaching" of the Buddha or the "Doctrine in ultimate terms."

This Dhamma is grounded in observable truth and reality one is able to directly experience. It is not a faith or belief system. It is not a metaphysical "theory," as some portray it, but rather a systematic explanation and guide to how it is possible for earnest meditators to directly know-and-see, finally culminating in enlightenment (bodhi).

All physical and mental phenomena are fully classified and explained in the system of Abhidhamma. That is why the Theravada Buddhist tradition regards the Abhidhamma as the most perfect exposition on the true nature of existence, realized by the penetrative wisdom of a supremely enlightened ene.

Truth

Ven. Dr. Pa Auk Sayadaw

According to Abhidhamma philosophy, there are two types of truth. The first is conventional truth (sammuti sacca), which refers to ordinary concepts, such as “tree,” “house,” “human,” “you,” “me,” “person,” “body,” “being,” and so on. Such concepts are closely linked to language, culture, and conditioning.

We assume that these concepts are objective realities, that they actually exist. They seem to exist, yes, but if we were to examine these concepts closely, we would find that they in no way exist as irreducible entities. Why? They can be broken down into smaller and smaller components.

For example, if we discern the Four Elements (the characteristics of matter) in the body, the “body” breaks down into innumerable, infinitesimal particles (kalapas). If we further analyze these particles, they also break down. We find that each particle contains eight inseparable elements or characteristics:

1. earth (solidity),
2. water (cohesion),
3. fire (temperature),
4. wind (movement),
5. color,
6. smell,
7. taste,
8. nutritive essence.

These elements are the final, irreducible components of matter (material existence). By penetrating conventional truth with wisdom, we can eventually realize ultimate truth.

Ultimate truth (paramattha sacca), according to Abhidhamma, means something that cannot be further broken down or subdivided into smaller components. It is a final and irreducible part of existence, which exists by reason of its own intrinsic nature (sabhāva).

For example, the earth-element in our human bodies, as well as in other animate things, exists with its intrinsic nature of hardness or softness, whereas the fire-element exists with its intrinsic nature of heat or cold. While a body is conventional truth, the elements that make up the body are the final, irreducible components of its existence, and no amount of analysis can break them down any further.

Of these two types of truth, Abhidhamma deals primarily with ultimate truth.

This book is divided into three parts. The first describes ultimate truths. In Abhidhamma, ultimate truth is fourfold:

1. Consciousness (conditioned phenomena)
2. Mental factors (conditioned)
3. Matter (conditioned)
4. Nirvana (unconditioned).

The first three of these ultimate truths comprise the totality of conditioned existence. Together, consciousness and mental factors are what we conventionally call the “mind” on the one hand. Matter, on the other hand, is what we conventionally call the “body.”

The successive coming together of mind-and-matter is what we conventionally call “I,” a person, human being, animal, or whatever the case may be.

The concept “I” is a conventional truth, whereas consciousness, mental factors, and matter are ultimate truths. These three ultimate truths are conditioned dhammas (phenomena) produced by causes and conditions, subject to radical change, dissolution, constant fading away, and are hurtling toward destruction.

They are subtle and profound dhammas that cannot be seen with the ordinary eye. However, they can be discerned by a mind well trained in concentration and insight.

Nirvana (nibbana), the fourth ultimate truth, is unconditioned. That is to say, it is not produced by any cause or condition. Therefore, it does not change. Nirvana can be experienced here and now.

The Buddha's path-of-practice is gradual (progressive) training in higher virtue, higher concentration, and higher wisdom. TO BE CONTINUED

• Unravelling the Mysteries of Mind and Body Through Abhidhamma (PDF)
• To order a physical copy of the latest edition, email Bro Low at janaka.low@gmail.com
• sayalaysusila.net/dhamma-gallery/books
• EDITORIAL NOTE: When the nun asked me to edit the first edition of this book, which is based on her very popular PowerPoint presentations, I did so thinking the final version would be run by me. It was not. Many hands contributed, often undoing much of the consistency I put in place. It went back and forth so often that I left it to her to leave it a mishmash. But here the standard American (rather than British) grammar is restored as is the choice of translated Pali and Sanskrit terms. These are minor issues but important to any editor. Much was fixed by the time of our third edition but imperfectly so.

INWARD PATH PUBLISHER, Penang • Malaysia. Originally published in Inward Journey Book Series (2005), an imprint of Inward Path Publisher for FREE distribution. This newly revised edition 2012 is published to support the establishment of Appamada Vihari, an International Meditation Center, where Sayalay Susila is the abbess. An Inward Wisdom Book. Published by INWARD PATH PUBLISHER. 14 Phuah Hin Leong Road, off Burma Road, 10050 Georgetown, Penang, MALAYSIA, P.O. Box 1034 General Post Office, 10830 Georgetown, Penang, MALAYSIA.

• email: ijbook@inwardpath.org
• inwardpathpublisher@gmail.com
• inwardpath.org

Text copyright © Sayalay Susila 2005-2012. Layout and design copyright © Inward Path Publisher 2005-2012. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner, any form, or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher and author. Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia cataloguing-in-publication data Sayalay Susila, 1963, Unravelling the Mysteries of Mind & Body Through Abhidhamma/Sayalay Susila. ISBN 978-983-3512-03-4.1. Abhidharma.   2. Dharma (Buddhism).   3. Mind and Body-Religious aspects--Buddhism.  I. Title. 294.3824. Cover design and book layout by Sunanda Lim. Printed in Penang, Malaysia.