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Abhidhamma

Buddhism
Also known as: Abhidharma, Buddhist scholasticism

Quick Summary

The Abhidhamma Pitaka is the third and latest collection of texts in the Pali canon of Theravada Buddhism. Unlike the other two collections, the Sutta and Vinaya Pitakas, the Abhidhamma texts are generally considered to be the words of disciples and scholars, rather than the Buddha himself.1

The Abhidhamma texts are not philosophical treatises but rather a detailed, schematic reworking of doctrinal material found in the Suttas. They delve into topics such as ethics, psychology, and epistemology. The Abhidhamma Pitaka includes seven texts: Dhammasangani, Vibhanga, Dhatukatha, Puggalapannatti, Kathavatthu, Yamaka, and Patthana. The Abhidhammavatara is an early manual that systematizes the doctrines within the Abhidhamma section of the Buddhist canon.12

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2 Britannica Sources
  1. Abhidhamma Pitaka
  2. Abhidhammavatara

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