Mūlapariyāya Sutta – Majjhima Nikāya, All objects of the mind are called ‘dhammā’ – ‘things’. So you may note first of all that the problem concerns those things that come to the mind. About this …
The purpose of this book is threefold. Firstly it aims to critically examine Christianity and thereby highlight the logical, philosophical and ethical problems in Christian dogma. In doing this I hope to be able to …
Abhidhamma is the Higher Teaching of the Buddha, sometimes referred to as the ultimate teaching (paramattha desanà). In it, man is described as a psycho-physical being consisting of both mind and matter, and it gives a microscopic analysis of the human being.
Abhidhamma explains the process of birth and death in detail. In addition to defining consciousness, it also analyses and classifies thoughts mainly from an ethical standpoint. Various types of consciousness are also set forth in detail, as they arise through the six sense-doors. Modern psychology has begun to acknowledge that it comes within the scope of Abhidhamma for the reason that it deals with the mind, with thoughts, thought-processes, and mental states. Buddhism has, from the very beginning, taught psychology without a psyche.
“Everything goes back originally to the word of the Buddha and his instructions for the Noble Life, and the following essay explains how there is only one Dhamma outlining the path that leads to the destination of purification and ultimate peace.”
During the life time of the Buddha his teaching was known variously as Buddha-vacana[1] (‘Word of the Buddha’), Buddha-sasana[2] (‘Message of the Buddha’ or ‘Teaching of the Buddha’), Satthu-sasana (‘Master’s Message’ or ‘Master’s Teaching’), Sasana[3] (‘Message’ or ‘Teaching’) or Dhamma[4] (‘Teaching’ or ‘Truth’). At that time there was nothing called Theravada or Mahayana. According to the ancient chronicles of Sri Lanka – Dipavamsa (Chronicle of the Island, 4th century A.C.), Mahavamsa (Great Chronicle, 5th century A.C.) and the Samantapasadika (Comentary on the Vinaya) – the terms ‘Theravada,’ ‘Teriya’ or ‘Therika’ were for the first time introduced into the history of Buddhism after the first Council (Synod) held at Rajagaha (Rajagriha) three months after the Buddha’s Parinirvana.
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