Abhidharma

Abhidharma (chos mngon pa)

• One of the three parts of the Tripitaka (Vinaya, Sutras, and Abhidharma), the Words of the Buddha. Systematic teachings on metaphysics focusing on developing discriminating knowledge by analyzing elements of experience and investigating the nature of existing things. The chief commentaries on Abhidharma are the Abhidharma Kosha by Vasubandhu from the Hinayana perspective and the Abhidharma Samucchaya by Asanga from the Mahayana point of view. [RY]

• Abhidharma, Skt. — mngon pa, the third section of the Tripitaka (with Vinaya and Sutras). Systematic teachings on metaphysics, focusing on the training of discriminating knowledge by analyzing elements of experience and investigating the nature of existing things. [AJP] from The Great Image ISBN 1-59030-069-6

See definition of Abharma from Abhidharma Kosha by Vasubandhu.