Introduction

The introduction to Bhikkhu Bodhi’s A Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma outlines the history, structure, and philosophical framework of the Abhidhammattha Sangaha.

The Abhidhamma Philosophy

The Abhidhamma is the third "basket" of the Tipiṭaka, presenting a highly technical systemization of the Buddha's "higher" or "special" doctrine. It is characterized by three dimensions:

• Ontology (The Dhamma Theory): It maintains that ultimate reality consists of elementary constituents called dhammas. These are the irreducible components of existence, distinct from conceptual constructs like "persons" or "objects".

• Phenomenological Psychology: It analyzes experience by dissecting the stream of consciousness into discrete cognitive events called cittas, each involving a constellation of mental factors (cetasikas).

• Psychological Ethics: It classifies states of mind based on ethical criteria—wholesome (kusala), unwholesome (akusala), and indeterminate (abyākata).

Methodological Distinctions

The introduction distinguishes the Abhidhamma from the Sutta Piṭaka through two methods:

• Pariyāya-dhammadesanā: The figurative method used in the Suttas, employing conventional language (vohāravacana) and metaphors to suit the listener.

• Nippariyāya-dhammadesanā: The literal method of the Abhidhamma, which uses abstract, formal terminology valid from the standpoint of ultimate truth (paramatthasacca).

Origins and Canonical Texts

Theravāda orthodoxy holds that the Buddha realized the Abhidhamma during his fourth week after Enlightenment and later taught it to the devas in the Tāvatiṃsa heaven. The Venerable Sāriputta is credited with the textual recension of the seven books of the Abhidhamma Piṭaka:

1. Dhammasaṅgaṇī: Enumeration of phenomena.

2. Vibhanga: Detailed analysis of doctrinal categories.

3. Dhātukathā: Discussion on elements.

4. Puggalapaññatti: Designations of individual types.

5. Kathāvatthu: Polemical refutations of deviant views.

6. Yamaka: Resolving ambiguities in technical terms using "pairs".

7. Paṭṭhāna: An exhaustive study of the twenty-four conditional relations (paccaya).

The Manual of Ācariya Anuruddha

The Abhidhammattha Sangaha, written by Ācariya Anuruddha (likely between the 10th and 12th centuries), serves as a concise primer to these massive canonical works. It organizes the system into fourfold ultimate reality (catudhā paramattha):

1. Consciousness (Citta)

2. Mental Factors (Cetasika)

3. Matter (Rūpa)

4. Nibbāna

The manual concludes by bridging this theory with practice, specifically through the development of calm (samatha) and insight (vipassanā).