The Abhidhamma, also known as Abhidharma, is a Buddhist philosophical and psychological system that analyzes the nature of reality and the mind. It is considered one of the three main divisions of the Buddhist canon, along with the Vinaya (monastic rules) and the Sutta (discourses of the Buddha).
The word “Abhidhamma” is derived from the Pali language, in which “abhi” means “higher” or “further” and “dhamma” refers to the teachings or phenomena. Therefore, Abhidhamma can be understood as the “higher teachings” or the “ultimate reality” as taught in Buddhism.
The Abhidhamma texts delve into profound philosophical and psychological analyses of the nature of existence, consciousness, perception, and the processes of mind and matter. They provide a detailed classification and categorization of mental and physical phenomena, along with the exploration of causal relationships between them.
The purpose of studying Abhidhamma is to gain a comprehensive and systematic understanding of the workings of the mind and the nature of reality. It is considered an essential tool for those seeking deep insight and liberation from suffering through meditation and contemplation.