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Abhidhamma (Pali)

By Prof. Bimalendra Kumar, Professor, BHU   |   Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies (CIHTS), Sarnath, Varanasi
Learners enrolled: 1116
About the Course :
Abhidhamma (Pali) is a four-credit course of 15 weeks duration. In this MOOCs on Abhidhamma, there are forty modules discussing the different aspects of Abhidhamma based on the texts of Abhidhamma Piṭaka and its commentaries. These modules can be considered the culmination of the entire Abhidhamma system as it offers a thorough study of the origin and development of Abhidhamma, explanations of the concepts based on Abhidhamma. It also gives an insight to understand the knotty problems of the mind and body relationship as well as framework for the practice of meditation leading to realization of a state of eternal bliss. 

The course deals with detailed explanations of four reals namely consciousness (citta), psychic factors (cetasika), material qualities (rūpa) and a state of eternal bliss (nibbāna). Moreover, it also presents some selected controversial doctrines of importance, such as the Bhavaṅga and Ālayavijñāna, Anusaya and Kliṣṭamanovijñāna, Concept of Hadayavatthu, Controversies of Kathāvatthu, Similarities of Kathāvatthu and Milindapañho etc. The discussion on these controversies will mainly be based on the texts of Abhidhamma Piṭaka, its commentaries and manuals of Abhidhamma namely Abhidhammattha-saṅgaho, Abhidhammāvatāra, Saccasaṅkhepa and other works. By studying these controversies, the students will gain a deeper insight into the doctrinal and spiritual concerns of the ancient masters, and how these concerns fervently stimulated progressive articulation and development of Buddhist thoughts.

Assessment: 100% coursework

Pre-requisite for the course:-
Graduation in any subject with the knowledge of English as medium of instruction, interest in Buddhist studies.

Course type: core or elective: :-
Open Elective

Estimated work load every week:-
8 to 12 hours. (Watching videos, reading module contents- (2 or 3 every week), attempting questions and reading related reference materials.) 

Total assignments allotted for the course (Indicate Graded assignments (which contain marks) and non-graded (those non-marks)): -
In all fifteen assignments (one assignment per week) and 15 assignments without marks. In addition, there will be five long essay type assignments (One assignment every three weeks). Out of them three assignments will be graded and two non-graded.

Summary
Course Status : Completed
Course Type : Elective
Language for course content : English
Duration : 15 weeks
Category :
  • Multidisciplinary
Credit Points : 4
Level : Undergraduate/Postgraduate
Start Date : 06 Feb 2023
End Date : 22 May 2023
Enrollment Ends : 15 Mar 2023
Exam Date :

Page Visits



Course layout

Week wise schedule (including the assignment to be kept in the week) :- 

Week No. Nos. and Titles of Modules
1 1.     Origin and Development of the Abhidhamma
  2.     Classification of Buddha Vacana and Abhidhamma
  3.     Mind And Matter in Abhidhamma
2 4.     An Introduction of Lokiya Citta
  5.     An Introduction of Consciousness (Citta) on the basis of Jāti (Class)
  6.     An Introduction Kusala Citta
3 7.     An Introduction of Vipāka Citta and Kiriyā Citta
  8.     An Introduction of Functions Of Consciousness (Citta-Kiccāni)
4 9.      Concept of Psychic Factors (Cetasika)
  10.  The Process of Consciousness (Citta-Vīthi)
11. A Study of Apperception Consciousness (Javana Citta)
 
5 12.  Material Quality (Rūpa) in Theravāda Abhidhamma
  13.  The Four Generating Principles (Samuṭṭhāna)and Grouping (kalāpa) of Material Qualities (Rūpa)
6 14.  Concept of Rūpa as depicted in the Dhammasaṅgaṇi
  15.  Nibbāna in Theravāda Abhidhamma
7 16.  An Introduction to the Dhammasaṅgaṇi
  17.  An Introduction of Establishment of Mātikā (Matrix) in Dhammasaṅgaṇi 
  18.  Explanations of a few tika and duka mātika-s
8 19.  An Outline of the Kathāvatthuppakaraṇa
  20.  Historicity of Kathāvatthuppakaraṇa
9 21.  Moggaliputtatissatthera as Great Exponent of Abhidhamma
  22.  Life History of Moggaliputta Tissa Thera
  23.  Comparative Study of Kathāvatthu and Milindapañho
10 24.  An Introduction to the Paṭṭhānappakaraṇa
  25.  Treatment of the Dhammas in the Paṭṭhāna-Pakaraṇa
11 26.  Morality (Sīla) in Theravāda Buddhism
  27.  Concentration (Samādhi) in Theravāda Buddhism
  28.  Seven Stages of Purification (Satta Visuddhi)
12 29.  Bodhipakkhiyā- Dhammā with Special Emphasis To Noble Eight- Fold Path
  30.  Karma And Rebirth In Theravāda Abhidhamma
  31.  Concept of Anatta in Abhidhamma
13 32.  Concept of Karuṇā in Abhidhamma
  33.  Paṭisambhidā and Sāgara as depicted in the Aṭṭhasālini
  34.  Concept of Heart-Base (Hadayavatthu)
14 35.  Concept of Akusala Dhamma
  36.  Concept of Saṃyojana

Books and references

Primary Sources:
1) Arthaviniścayasūtra Nibandhanam (Ed.) N. H. Samtani, K.P. Jaysawal Research Institute, Patna, 1971.
2) Abhidhammatthasaṅgaho with Navanītaṭīkā (Ed.) Dharmananda Kosambi, Maha Bodhi Society of India, Sarnath, Varanasi and Buddhist World Press, Delhi, 2017.
3) Abhidhammatthasaṅgaho and Abhidhammatthavibhāvanīṭīkā (Ed.) Bhadanta Revatadharma, Bauddha Svadhyaya Satra, Varanasi, Fifth Edition, 1965.
4) Aṭṭhasālini, (Ed.) P.V. Bapat and R.D. Vadekar, Poona, 1940.
5) Aṭṭhasālinī (Ed.) Ram Shankar Tripathy, Sampoornanand Sanskrit University, Varanasi, 1989.
6) Bodhicaryāvatāra of Śāntideva (Ed.) P.L. Vaidya, TheMithila Institute, Darbhanga, 1988.
7) Dhammapada, (Ed. & Tr.) Sanghasen Singh, Delhi University, Delhi, 1977.
8) Dhammasaṅgaṇi (Ed.) Bhikkhu Jagdish Kashyap, Nalanda Edition, Nalanda, 1960.
9) Dīghanikāya Vol. III, Vipassana Research  Research Institute, Igatpuri, 1993. 
10) Dīghanikāya Vol. II & III, (ed.) Bhikkhu J. Kashyap, Nalanda Edition, Nalanda, 1958.
11) History of Researches in Indian Buddhism, N. N. Bhattacarya, Munsiram Manoharla Publishers Pvt. Ltd., Delhi, 1981.
12) Majjhimanikāya, Vol. I, II, & III, (Ed.) Bhikkhu J. Kassapa, Nalanda Edition, Nalanda, 1960.
13) Pañcappakaraṇa-aṭṭhakathā, (Ed.) Mahesh Tiwary, Nalanda Edition, Nalanda, 1971.
14) Paṭisambhidāmagga, (Ed.) Bhikkhu J. Kassapa, Nalanda Edition, Nalanda, 1960.
15) Samantapāsādikā, Vol. I  (Ed.) Birbal Sharma, Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, Nalanda, 1964.
16) Suhrllekha and its commentary (Ed.) Pema Tenzin, Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarnath, Varanasi, 2002.
17) Visuddhimagga (Paramatthamañjūsā sahita) Vol.I, II, & III, (Ed.) Revatadhamma, Sampurnanad Sanskrit University, Varanasi, 1969, 1972
18) Visuddhimagga, Vol. I & II, Vipassana Research Institute, Igatpuri, 1998.


Secondary Sources:

1. Bodhi, Bhikkhu. (2000). Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma: The Abhidhammattha Sangha of Acariya Anuruddha. Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society. 
2. त्रिपाठी, रामाशंकर.  (1991). अभिधम्मत्थसङ्गहो (भाग 1-2). वाराणसी: सम्पूर्णानन्द संस्कृत वि¬श्व¬¬विद्यालय. 
3. Karunadasa, Y. (2010). The Theravāda Abhidhamma: Its Inquiry into the Nature of Conditioed Reality. Hong Kong: Centre of Buddhist Studies, the University of Hong Kong. 
4. Aung, S.Z. and Davids, Mrs. Rhys. (1910). Compendium of Philosophy (TR. Of Ads.). London: PTS.
5. Kashyap, Bhikkhu J. (1982). The Abhidhamma Philosophy vol. II. Delhi: Bhartiya Vidya Prakashan.
6. Pande, G. C., Buddhism, Centre for Studies in Civilizations, New Delhi, 2013. 
7. Dutta, Nalinaksha and Bajpai, Krishna Datta, Development of Buddhism in Uttar Pradesh, Publication Bureau, Government of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, First Edition, 1996.
8. Bodhi, Bhikkhu, A Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma (The Abhidhammatthasaṅgaho of Ācariya Anuruddha), Buddhist Publication Society, Kandy, Sri Lanka, Third Edition, 2006.
9. Davids, Mrs. Rhys, Compendium of Philosophy, The Pali Text Society, Oxford, 1995.
10. Gethin, R. M. L., The Buddhist Path of Awakening, One world Publications, Oxford, England, 2001.
11. Hajime Nakamura Indian Buddhism: A Survey with Bibliographical Notes (Ed.), Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, Delhi, 1989.
12. Kalupahana, D. J., A History of Buddhist Philosophy, Motilal Banarasidass Publishers, Delhi, First Edition, 1994.
13. Maha Thera, Piyadassi, The Seven Factors of Enlightenment, Buddhist Publication Society, Kandy, Sri Lanka, 1980. 
14. Ñāṇamoli, Bhikkhu, The Path of Purification (Visuddhimagga by Bhadantācariya Buddhaghosa), The Corporate Body of the Buddha Educational Foundation, Taipei, Taiwan.
15. Ronkin, Noa, Early Buddhist metaphysics (The Making of Philosophical Tradition), Routledge Curzon, London, First Edition, 2005.
16. Sayadaw, Ledi Mahathera, Bodhipakkhiya-Dīpanī -The Manuals of Buddhism (The Exposition of the Buddha-Dhamma), Department of Religious Affairs, Rangoon, Burma, 1981.
17. Sharma, Brahmadeo Narayan Sharma, Vibhajjavāda, Sampurnanand, Saskrit University, Varanasi, 2004. 
18. Tiwary, Mahesh, Śīla, Samādhi and Prajñā (The Buddha’s Path of Purification), K. P. Jayasawal Research Institute, Patna, 1987.
19. Wijeratne, R. P. and Gethin, Rupert, Summary of the Topics of Abhidhamma (Abhidhammatthasaṅgaho by Anuruddha) and Exposition of the Topics of Abhidhamma Abhidhammatthavibhāvanī by Sumaṅgala), The Pali Text Society, Oxford, 2002.
20. ‘The Thirty-seven Factors of Enlightenment’ by Peter Della Santina in the The Maha Bodhi Journal Vol. 98, January-June, 1990, No-6s. 1.

Instructor bio

Prof. Bimalendra Kumar, Professor, BHU

Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies (CIHTS), Sarnath, Varanasi
Course Coordinator of the Course:- 
Prof. Bimalendra Kumar,                      
Professor, Department of Pāli and Buddhist Studies,                
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
Email Id: bimalendrakumar9@gmail.com
Mobile and Whats App No.: +91- 9415358380

Prof. BIMALENDRA KUMAR started his academic career as a Lecturer in the Department of Indo-Tibetan Studies, Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan (W.B.) in November 1991. He joined the Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi in July, 1998 and at present, he is Professor of Pali, Department of Pali & Buddhist Studies, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi (U.P.) since November 2008. His publications include over eighty articles in various scholarly journals published from India and abroad. He has edited and authored ten books namely, Theory of Relations in Buddhist Philosophy (1998); Gandhavaṃsa: A History of Pali Literature (1992); Perspectives of Tibetan and Buddhist Studies (2005); Paṭṭhānuddesadīpanī (2005); Dāhtuvaṃso (2006); Dhamma-desanā: A Buddhist Perspective (Prof. Mahesh Tiwari Commemoration Volume) (2007) (jointly edited); Buddhism and Social Ideals (2009) (jointly edited); Meghadūta: Critical Edition with Sanskrit and Tibetan Index (2011) (jointly edited); Bhesajjamañjūsā 1-18 Paddhati (Devanagari Edition) (2015); Pali Vimarśa (2015); Bodhi: Recent Researches in Pali Studies (2016) (jointly edited) and Pariyatti: Studies in Pali Literature (2017) (jointly edited). He is the editor of Dharmadoot Journal and Mahabodhi Journal published by Maha Bodhi Society of India, Sarnath and Kolkata respectively.
He has presented research papers in more than hundred national/International seminars and conferences. He had academic visits to Portugal, U.K., West Germany, France, Mexico, Thailand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Nepal, Vietnam and China. Twenty-seven research scholars have been awarded Ph.D. Degree under his supervision and presently eight scholars are working under his guidance for Ph.D. Degree course. He had been member of the Board of Studies, Examination Committees and Syllabus Revision Committee of some of the Indian Universities. He had been one of the members of the Advisory Committee of the Centre for Buddhist Studies, Arya Mahila P.G. Mahila College, Varanasi and member of the Board of Studies, Deptt. Of Indo-Tibetan Studies, Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan (W.B.); Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, Nalanda; He is also member of the General Council of the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Gangtok, Sikkim. He has been awarded Viśeṣa Puraskāra on the text Bhesajjamañjūsā 1-18 Paddhati (Devanagari Edition) by Uttara Pradesha Sanskrit Academy, Lucknow (U.P.) for the year 2016.



Coordinator of the Course :-

Professor Geshe Ngawang Samten
Vice Chancellor, Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, 

Professor Geshe Ngawang Samten,  possesses a rare combination of education on modern lines as well as the Tibetan monastic system.  He obtained Geshe Lharampa degree, from Gaden Shartse monastery, equivalent to Ph.D. degree in the modern system. 

As a result of his outstanding achievement in the field of research, he was promoted to the position of Professor of Buddhist Philosophy.  He is also actively engaged in Hindi translations of Buddhist texts in Sanskrit and Tibetan. Professor Samten, with his special interest in the philosophy of Nagarjuna, published the definitive critical edition of the Ratnāvali with its commentary as the result of his post-graduate research. He is credited with important publications, such as a critical edition of Abhidhammattha-Saṅgaho, a critical edition of Sanskrit and Tibetan versions of the Piṇḍikṛta and the Pañcakrama of Nagarjuna, and co-authored The Ocean of Reasoning, an annotated English translation of the commentary on Nagarjuna’s Mulamadhyamaka Karika by the Tibetan master thinker Tson-Kha-Pa, published by Oxford University Press. The Ocean of Reasoning is acclaimed far and wide. 

He has contributed to the improvement of academic standards at CIHTS, particularly through teaching and research. He is instrumental in promoting Buddhist Studies in India. A number of Indian universities have greatly been benefited by his scholarship and insight in formulating courses and initiating Buddhist studies.  He strongly advocates to make the education system instrumental in transforming the students through inculcation of value along with development of skills in various fields. 

He frequently travels across the continents lecturing to academic audiences in the United States, Europe, Australia, Russia, some of the Asian countries and as well in India. He has been in action at various national and international seminars, workshops and conferences. He has held Visiting Professorship at Hampshire, Amherst and Smith Colleges in the USA and at the University of Tasmania in Australia.

In virtue of his sagacity and wisdom, Professor Samten has been on numerous academic bodies of universities and expert committees of the Ministries of Government of India, and as a member on the boards of several Institutes in USA, Canada, Thailand, France and Austria. He has also served in the Editorial Board of International Association of Tibetan Studies in Harvard. He has been the Vice President of Association of Indian Universities, and has served chairman/member of various expert committees constituted by the University Grant Commission of India.

In 2009, he has been awarded Padma Shri (one of the country’s highest civilian awards) by       the President of India for his distinguished services in the field of education and literature.

In 2016, he has been awarded Vesak Samman by the Government of India in recognition of his outstanding lifelong achievement in the fields preservation, development and promotion of Indian philosophy, arts and culture within and outside India, as well as his lifelong services towards dissemination of Buddhist studies and establishment of academic institutions.

He is currently the Vice-Chancellor of Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarnath, Varanasi.


Teaching Assistants for the Course:-

1. Dr. Animesh Prakash

Animesh Prakash is Ph.D. in Pāli language from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. Currently, he is working as an Assistant Professor in Pāli at the CIHTS, Sarnath. Previously, he was serving as an Assistant Professor in Pāli at K J Somaiya Centre for Buddhist Studies, Mumbai. His research focuses on “the application of Vipassanā in Psycho-therapy.” He has been also trained in Classical Tibetan language at the RYI, Kathmandu University and at the HKU, Hong-Kong. He has published a book titled as “Taming the Serpent King Nandopananda in Pāli and Tibetan Canon” in 2021.
 email: animeshatcuts@gmail.com
Mob. No. 9598451704.

2. Dr. Shailendra Kumar Singh 
Dr Shailendra Kumar Singh did his BA Hons. in Pali, MA in Pali and Ph.D. from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. Presently he is working as Assistant Professor, Department of Pali & Buddhist Studies, Faculty of Arts, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005 (U.P.).
email: shailbhu177@gmail.com,
Mob. No. 9415885201.

Course certificate

The Interested Learners (Students, Working Professionals, and Life-Long Learners) can enroll and learn this MOOC course for free. 

If you want to get SWAYAM Certificate for this course, you have to register for SWAYAM Examination and write the proctored examination conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA: https://swayam.nta.ac.in/) in its various exam centres across India. The SWAYAM examination fee for this course is Rs. 1000, to be paid at the time of Exam registration.   

Marks Distribution:
In this course, 30 Marks will be allocated for Internal Assessment (assignment/ discussion forum/ activity) and 70 Marks will be allocated for external proctored examination.

A  minimum of 40 % passing marks (i.e. at-least 12 marks in Internal Assessment & 28 Marks in external proctored examination) will be required for being eligible for SWAYAM Certificate.

Kindly note:- The students enrolled in Universities/Institutions/Colleges can avail Credit Transfer as per UGC SWAYAM Regulations, 2021 for this course. The Host University for this Credit Transfer will be Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies (CIHTS), Sarnath, Varanasi.


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