Buddha Dhyana Dana Review Volume 12 No. 4
Editorial
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On 25 June 2002 our teacher commenced teaching Abhidhamma each week on Tuesday evenings at 7 pm.
Classes will run for 9 years.
There are 41 000 slokas of Abhidhamma in the Pali Tipitika and this makes it the largest section of the 3 baskets.
In Myanamar the Venerable Bhaddanta Narada Mahathera (Aggamahapandita) was well known as the original Patthana master.
Sao Htun Hmat Win M.A., A.M., S.R.F., Maha Saddhamma jotikadhaja, Adviser to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Union of Myanamar, studied in 1952 under the Venerable Bhaddanta Narada Mahathera (Aggamahapandita).
Sao Htun Hmat Win and Professor Thein Nyunt commenced translating the Venerable Narada’s writings on Abhidhamma. These were not completed.
The Venerable Narada prophesied that “an able scholar will emerge to accomplish the noble task of presenting Abhidhamma in English to the world.”
The novel and authentic treatise entitled “The Essence of Buddha Abhidhamma” by Dr. Mehm Tin Mon resulted.
Dr Tin Mon received a masters and doctorate degree in chemistry and then served his country for several years as a Professor of Chemistry. His approach to Abhidhamma is very scientific as well as artistic.
His courses on Abhidhamma drew large crowds as he had the ability to compare Abhidhamma with science as well as with western philosophy making the subject interesting and stimulating.
He emphasised that the teachings of Lord Buddha in Abhidhamma are very scientific.
Abhidhamma or ultimate science surpasses all other historical, philosophical and religious science.
This treatise is really a new version of the Compendium of Buddhist Philosophy after the design of the well-known book entitled “The Abhidhammattha Sangaha - The Compendium of Buddhist Philosophy” written by U Shwe Zan Aung and published by the London Pali Text society in 1910.
Class 1, in this series copies the ‘Table of Content’ of “The Essence of Buddha Abhidhamma” to allow students to become familiar with the Pali words.
The introduction states: “ What is known as Abhidhamma is not the province nor the sphere of a disciple; it is the province, the sphere of the Buddhas (Omniscient Ones).”
Class 2 on 2 July 2002 put forth arguments to dispel the views 1. that the Abhidhamma was not expounded by the Buddha 2. that it was a later edition and 3. It was non-existent during the time of the Buddha.
Although Abhidhamma has been flourishing in Burma for a long time, very few were interested in Patthana because there were no easy methods available for its understanding. In fact Patthana was almost lost into oblivion.
May all our readers, after having made a proper study of Patthana overcome greed, hate and ignorance to understand what is path to fruition.
Class 3 on 9 July 2002 drew attention to the congregation of over 38,000 Devas and Devattas from the Heaven of the Thirty -Three whom had come to hear these teachings, to the human Members of our Centre.
The paper “Examination of Training Issues at our Centre for the next 9 years was studied and Members were advised to study the 100 classifications of the Dewy Decimal system. The study of this paper was extended into the next Class, No 4 on 16 July 2002. This paper can be accessed Volume 12 No 2 at www.bddronline.net.au
Class 5 on 23 July 2002 studied two papers : “Preparation and review of merit needed by participants for Abhidhamma Teachings at our Centre 2002 to 2011 CE.” and “ Tactics for making persons aware of kammic debt’ both papers are available on Volume 12 No. 2 at www.bddronline.net.au
Class 6 on 30 July 2002 gave a description of the Maha-kusala cittas available in this issue (Volume 12 No. 4). This issue also includes the papers for Class 7 to Class 11.
We will continue to document weekly lessons for the next nine years providing a systematised approach to Abhidhamma.
We invite our readers to contribute to these writings and we will publish their writings on our Buddha Dhyana Dana Review on line newsletter.
Our students are enjoying these classes and maturing under these teachings.
May all beings be well and happy.
John D. Hughes Dip. App. Chem. T.T.T.C. GDAIE and Anita M. Hughes RN Div1.