Can Abhidhamma assist in my practice? How?

Discussion of Abhidhamma and related Commentaries
User avatar
robertk
Posts: 5603
Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2009 2:08 am

Re: Can Abhidhamma assist in my practice? How?

Post by robertk »

Ontheway wrote: Fri Oct 29, 2021 2:05 am Found a paper regarding how Abhidhamma Patthana apply in practice.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source= ... SDtbPm-Vl1
Doesn't open for me.
Ontheway
Posts: 3062
Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2021 3:35 pm

Re: Can Abhidhamma assist in my practice? How?

Post by Ontheway »

robertk wrote: Sat Oct 30, 2021 2:32 pm
Ontheway wrote: Fri Oct 29, 2021 2:05 am Found a paper regarding how Abhidhamma Patthana apply in practice.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source= ... SDtbPm-Vl1
Doesn't open for me.

Maybe this one?
https://www.researchgate.net/publicatio ... n_Practice
Hiriottappasampannā,
sukkadhammasamāhitā;
Santo sappurisā loke,
devadhammāti vuccare.

https://suttacentral.net/ja6/en/chalmer ... ight=false
Ontheway
Posts: 3062
Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2021 3:35 pm

Re: Can Abhidhamma assist in my practice? How?

Post by Ontheway »

Another interesting research paper I found regarding the living tradition of Abhidhamma in Burma (now Myanmar).

https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/files/ ... thesis.pdf
Hiriottappasampannā,
sukkadhammasamāhitā;
Santo sappurisā loke,
devadhammāti vuccare.

https://suttacentral.net/ja6/en/chalmer ... ight=false
dhammaduckie
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2021 4:11 am

Re: Can Abhidhamma assist in my practice? How?

Post by dhammaduckie »

Hi,

The Abhidhamma is a very dry read but it has personally helped my practice by contextualizing anatta. The more I've been able to see the categorical organization of different modes (moments) of existence, the less I see them as myself but as simply processes occurring in conjunction with the karmic chain of being. This understanding has strengthened my vipassana practice on and off the mat.

With Metta,
DhammaDuck
Ontheway
Posts: 3062
Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2021 3:35 pm

Re: Can Abhidhamma assist in my practice? How?

Post by Ontheway »

A Dhamma talk by Venerable Sayādaw Dr Nandamālābhivamsa. :anjali:



Topic: Why Buddhist must study Abhidhamma, Samatha & Vipassana?

:candle: :meditate: :candle:
Hiriottappasampannā,
sukkadhammasamāhitā;
Santo sappurisā loke,
devadhammāti vuccare.

https://suttacentral.net/ja6/en/chalmer ... ight=false
SarathW
Posts: 21184
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:49 am

Re: Can Abhidhamma assist in my practice? How?

Post by SarathW »

DiamondNgXZ wrote: Fri Sep 24, 2021 6:08 am
Mr. Seek wrote: Fri Sep 24, 2021 5:39 am
How does it aid in meditation? I've heard of this before, but I don't know how. I even heard of medtitating monks carrying with them the Paṭṭhāna when on forest retreats.
Studying the 52 cetasikas mostly helps in identifying what mental contents are there in the mind. It's a more systematic classification compared to the suttas, so easier to see them while meditating.

Let's use an example, piti (joy/rapture), is one of the cetasikas, in the 5 aggregates classification, it's volitional formations. So piti is actually something we can will, control. This is as opposed to sukha (happiness), which is a resultant pleasant feeling. This is useful in identifying the factors of Jhanas, cause piti and sukha arises together frequently and if you know these details, you can distinguish them a bit more. Especially on the differences between 2nd and 3rd Jhana, where piti disappeared in 3rd Jhana.

It's things like this which could help.
Agree.
To me contemplating on 52 Cetasika is like practicing Vedananupassna, Dhammanupassana in Satipathana.
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
asahi
Posts: 2732
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2020 4:23 pm

Re: Can Abhidhamma assist in my practice? How?

Post by asahi »

SarathW wrote: Mon Jan 17, 2022 11:25 pm
DiamondNgXZ wrote: Fri Sep 24, 2021 6:08 am
Mr. Seek wrote: Fri Sep 24, 2021 5:39 am
How does it aid in meditation? I've heard of this before, but I don't know how. I even heard of medtitating monks carrying with them the Paṭṭhāna when on forest retreats.
Studying the 52 cetasikas mostly helps in identifying what mental contents are there in the mind. It's a more systematic classification compared to the suttas, so easier to see them while meditating.

Let's use an example, piti (joy/rapture), is one of the cetasikas, in the 5 aggregates classification, it's volitional formations. So piti is actually something we can will, control. This is as opposed to sukha (happiness), which is a resultant pleasant feeling. This is useful in identifying the factors of Jhanas, cause piti and sukha arises together frequently and if you know these details, you can distinguish them a bit more. Especially on the differences between 2nd and 3rd Jhana, where piti disappeared in 3rd Jhana.

It's things like this which could help.
Agree.
To me contemplating on 52 Cetasika is like practicing Vedananupassna, Dhammanupassana in Satipathana.
This is incorrect .
No bashing No gossiping
Ontheway
Posts: 3062
Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2021 3:35 pm

Re: Can Abhidhamma assist in my practice? How?

Post by Ontheway »

SarathW is correct, partly.

When dealing with Vedananupassna:
Vedana is one of the cetasikas.

When dealing with Dhammanupassna, only partly (like Nīvaraṇapabbaṃ & Bojjhaṅgapabbaṃ) is. For example:
(1) Sensual desire is within lobha, one of the cetasikas.
(2) Ill will is within Dosa, one of the cetasikas.
(3)Sloth & drowsiness, (4) restlessness & anxiety, and (5) uncertainty are all cetasikas.

A full glance of Mahasatipatthana Sutta:
https://www.tipitaka.org/stp-pali-eng-parallel
Hiriottappasampannā,
sukkadhammasamāhitā;
Santo sappurisā loke,
devadhammāti vuccare.

https://suttacentral.net/ja6/en/chalmer ... ight=false
SarathW
Posts: 21184
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:49 am

Re: Can Abhidhamma assist in my practice? How?

Post by SarathW »

Ontheway wrote: Wed Jan 19, 2022 6:12 pm SarathW is correct, partly.

When dealing with Vedananupassna:
Vedana is one of the cetasikas.

When dealing with Dhammanupassna, only partly (like Nīvaraṇapabbaṃ & Bojjhaṅgapabbaṃ) is. For example:
(1) Sensual desire is within lobha, one of the cetasikas.
(2) Ill will is within Dosa, one of the cetasikas.
(3)Sloth & drowsiness, (4) restlessness & anxiety, and (5) uncertainty are all cetasikas.

A full glance of Mahasatipatthana Sutta:
https://www.tipitaka.org/stp-pali-eng-parallel
Agree. In Abhidhamma Nibbana and Four Noble Truths are discussed as a separate topic and not included in 52 Cetasika.
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
Ontheway
Posts: 3062
Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2021 3:35 pm

Re: Can Abhidhamma assist in my practice? How?

Post by Ontheway »

To the OP, this might be interesting:

https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/aut ... el322.html
Hiriottappasampannā,
sukkadhammasamāhitā;
Santo sappurisā loke,
devadhammāti vuccare.

https://suttacentral.net/ja6/en/chalmer ... ight=false
User avatar
Pondera
Posts: 3060
Joined: Thu Aug 11, 2011 10:02 pm

Re: Can Abhidhamma assist in my practice? How?

Post by Pondera »

Mr. Seek wrote: Fri Sep 24, 2021 12:03 pm Can someone explain it to me like I'm 5? I sit down to meditate--then what, how does Abhidhamma assist in that, specifically? Cheers.
So, after you sit down and identify all 52 cetasikas you get a first place blue ribbon! :clap:
Like the three marks of conditioned existence, this world in itself is filthy, hostile, and crowded
Post Reply