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
"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:
- earth (solidity),
- water (cohesion),
- fire (temperature),
- wind
(movement),
- color,
- smell,
- taste,
- 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:
- Consciousness (conditioned phenomena)
- Mental factors (conditioned)
- Matter (conditioned)
- 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
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- 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.
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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.
