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The abhidhamma is the name of one of the three pitaka s, or baskets of tradition, into which the Tipitaka, the canon of Theravada Buddhism, is divided. It consists of seven sections:

• 1. Dhamma Sangani (enumeration of qualities).
• 2. Vibhanga (exposition).
• 3. Katha Vatthu (bases of opinion).
• 4. Puggala Pannatti (on individuals).
• 5. Dhatu Katha (on relations of moral dispositions).
• 6. Yamaka (the pairs, that is, of ethical states).
• 7. Patthana (evolution of ethical states).

These have all been published in romanized Pāli by the Pali Text Society, and have been translated into English as well. Scholars date these works from about 400 BC to about 250 BC, the first being the oldest and the third the latest of the seven.

Before the publication of the texts in the West, when they were known in the English-speaking world only by hearsay, the term abhidhamma was usually rendered metaphysics, but some now feel that this is misleading. Dhamma ( Sanskrit: dharma) has a variety of meanings, which can include "custom", "natural law", or "religious teachings", and abhidhamma that which underlies or support dhamma. It expands, classifies, systematizes, and draws corollaries from the ethical doctrines laid down in the more popular treatises.

Given that the interpretations of the Buddha's teachings varied in different Buddhist schools, it is understandable that they produced distinct secondary works. Thus, abhidamma or, more commonly, the Sanskrit equivalent, abhidharma, can also refer to similar texts by schools other than the Theravada. The only complete set of these that still exists was composed in Sanskrit by the Sarvastivadins, no later than the first centuries BC and CE produced. These are lost in India, but still exist in ChineseThe Chinese language (/, /, or ; pinyin: hany, huay, or zhongwen) is a member of the Sino-Tibetan family of languages. Although most Chinese view the many varieties of spoken Chinese as a single language, regional variations in spoken language are compara translations. According to an analysis by Professor Takakasu , the translations deal only with psychological ethics. In the course of further centuries, a variety of other texts, including various shastraShastra is a Sanskrit word used to denote education/knowledge in a general sense. The word is generally used as a suffix in the context of technical or specialised knowledge in a defined area of practice. For example, Astra shastra means, knowledge abouts, filled a similar role for other schools, although these were generally not termed abhidhamma or abhidharma.

Sources

• Buddhist Psychology, Caroline Rhys Davids , ( LondonLondon is the capital of the United Kingdom and of England, and with over seven million inhabitants in the Greater London area, is the second-most populous conurbation in Europe (after Moscow). From being Londinium the capital of the Roman province of Bri, 19001900 is the common year starting on Monday. see link for calendar) For the film, see 1900 (film). Events January January 1 Nigeria becomes British protectorate January 2 John Hay announces the Open Door Policy to promote trade with China. January 2 Chicag)
• "On the Abhidhamma books of the Sarvastivadins", by Professor Takakusu, in Journal of the Pali Text Society, 1905Events January-April January 22 Massacre of Russian demonstrators at the Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg, one of the triggers of the abortive Russian Revolution of 1905. January 26 The Cullinan Diamond is found near Pretoria, South Africa at the Premier.

This article incorporates text from the public domain 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica. 1911 Britannica