ACI 5 Class 1

Question 1

Name the main root text for the study of Higher Knowledge (Abhidharma); give the author’s name and his dates. Then give the name of the main commentary we will be using, the author and his dates.

Answer 1

A) Abhidharmakosha of Master
Vasubandhu, circa 350 AD.
B) The Illumination of the Path to Freedom of His Holiness the First
Dalai Lama, 1391-1474.

Question 2

Explain the literal meaning of the words in the title of the root text.

Answer 2

Abhidharma means “knowledge.” Abhi means “up to” or “approaching.” Dharma means an “existing object”: anything which holds its own nature. The highest of all existing objects is nirvana, and knowledge brings to you, or leads you to, this state.

Question 3

List the eight chapters of the root text and explain their interrelation.

Answer 3

1: Categories of Existence
2: Powers
3: Perishable World
4: Karma
5: Widespread Mental Afflictions
6: Person and the Path
7: Wisdom
8: Balanced Meditation

Question 4

Explain the interrelation of the eight chapters of the root text

Answer 4

Chapter One presents stained and unstained phenomena in a general
way. The powers, and how caused things arise, are treated only briefly
in Chapter One, and so Chapter Two gives more detail on these. The
three realms of suffering existence are treated only briefly in the first
two chapters, and so Chapter Three treats these in more detail. Some
people think the source of these suffering worlds is a creator; Chapter Four disproves this idea and shows that the real source is our deeds. Chapter Five presents the motivating force behind these deeds: the mental afflictions. Chapter Six shows how we can eliminate these afflictions. Chapter Seven gives additional detail on the types of knowledge mentioned in the sixth chapter. Chapter Eight describes the qualities which Buddhas have in common with advanced beings at lower levels; these and the Buddha’s unique qualities were mentioned only
briefly in the seventh chapter.

Question 5

What things does the word “abhidharma” actually refer to?

Answer 5

The word “abhidharma” means “knowledge.” There are two types of this knowledge. Actual knowledge is the three unstained paths (the path of seeing, the path of habituation, and the path of no more learning). These constitute unstained wisdom and its accessories.

Question 6

Name the four required attributes of a reputable Buddhist book, and explain what they are in this case.

Answer 6

Subject matter: Stained and unstained types of phenomena.

Purpose: To plant in students’ minds the wisdom which analyzes
phenomena in an ultimate way.

Ultimate goal: Nirvana.

Relation: To reach nirvana you need wisdom, and to get wisdom you need to study the book.