ME6220 Theravāda Abhidhamma (3 credits) (3-0-6)
The course introduces the Theravāda Abhidhamma by studying its texts, technical terms and the dhamma theory, seeing their connection to early Buddhism, and the texts, technical terms and dharma theories of other early Buddhist schools of Sautrāntika and Sarvāstivāda inparticular.
The course will begin with the doctrinal trends and historical factors that led to the emergence of the Abhidhamma and its development as contained in the Canonical texts and the Abhidhamma manuals.This will be followed by a discussion of the AbhidhammaVibhanga, Dhātukathā, Puggala-paññatti and Kathāvatthu, Yamaka and the Paţţhāna; dhamma and its study; dharma taxonomy; time; intrinsic nature; causation and epistemology. The course will conclude with the theory of expression (Paññatti) and the two truths (sammuti and paramattha).
