Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.21464/fi38116

Content, Methodology and Intention of Presentation of the Buddha’s Teaching in Terms of Canonical Abhidharma

Goran Kardaš orcid.org/0000-0003-1695-1559 ; Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Filozofski fakultet, Ivana Lučića 3, HR–10000 Zagreb

Abstract

The paper explores the type of discourse of the so­called canonical Abhidharma as the earliest systematic presentation of Buddha’s teaching. Certain located canonical sūtras (Buddha’s discourses) might served as a doctrinal starting point for constructing the system of Abhidharma as well as its methodology of presentation that could be rooted in Buddha’s differentiation between direct (nītattha) and indirect (neyyattha) types of discourse. In continuation of the article, we proceed to analyze content and method of presentation of the canonical Abhidharma within the Theravāda Buddhist school as it was carried out in two of their classical works: Dhammasaṃgani and Abhidhammatthasangaha. In these works, an analysis of reality as primary psycho­physical data (dharmas) is carried out consistently. It is furthermore shown that such an analysis of reality avoids an ontological question about the existential status of dharmas that, on the contrary, should be understood as the phenomenological description of elementary psycho­physical functions that shape experience or ‘types’ of consciousness (citta). The article concludes with the elaboration of possible reasons (intentions) for constructing the system of canonical Abhidharma.

Keywords

abhidharma; Buddha; dharma; phenomenology of experience; theravāda; types of consciousness

Hrčak ID:

204800

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/204800

Publication date:

2.4.2018.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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