6th Issue (December, 2007) Editor's Preface The current theme of this edition of Bodhi Journal is ‘Theravāda Abhidhamma’. The Abhidhhamic philosophy is an alternative teaching approach or pedagogy of expounding the soteriological message of Gotama Buddha. The Buddha himself employed primarily two pedagogical devices (upāyas) to help the learners of varying temperaments,interests,aptitude and capacities penetrate into the Truth of emancipation . The two primary methods are Suttanta pedagogy and Abhidhamma pedagogy. The Suttanta pedagogy is indirect, figurative, embellished and non-technical (pariyāya-dhammadesanā). Conversely, the Abhidhamma pedagogy is direct,non-figurative,unembellished and technical (nipparoyāya-dhammadesanā). The articles appearing in this edition will serve as a great mental nutrition or spiritual feast to readers whom I welcome fervently to join us to seek the Truth for eternal ethical excellence, bliss, and penetrating wisdom for engendering maximal human excellence. The articles in this edition are enumerated below: Feature Article Academic Articles 3. Controversies on the Origin of the Theravāda Abhidhammapiṭaka by Bhikkhu Karmananda Tanchangya 4. Discernment of the Treasure of Abhidhamma by Wong Weng Hon Reflections Poem In the features section, the second article on ‘The Significance of Javana Consciousness’ by K.S. Chow illustrates the correlation between purity or impurity and Javana consciousness. The emphasis is focused on the significance of the Javana consciousness (active process of cognition) in which human freewill and efforts can be applied either to purify or sully the Javana consciousness. The natures of Javana consciousness of the ordinary worldlings and Arahants are precisely examined. Selfless pro-activity of right mindfulness and clear awareness purifies the Javana consciousness and eliminates human fallibilities. Selfish reactivity of attachment and aversion sullies the Javana consciousness thus constructing human fallibilities. Every human personality is actually the conglomeration of the elementary irreducible constituents called Dhammas. The human personality comprises the physical phenomena (rūpadhammas) and mental phenomena (nāmadhammas) devoid of any permanent substance called Self (Attā) or Soul (Ātma). All dhammas are dynamic and not static without any underlying permanent substances as Abhidhammic analysis work reveals. There is no noumenon behind any phenomenon. The third article in the Academic Articles section is ‘Controversies on the Origin of the Abhidhammapiṭ̣aka’. This illuminating article is contributed by Bhikkhu Karmananda Tanchangya. The writer examines the two possible theories pertaining to the origin of Abhidhammapiṭaka of the Theravāda tradition. The first theory is that it originated directly from the exposition of Gotama Buddha himself. The second theory, put forwards, is that it was collected, compiled systematized by Ābhidhammikas through the evolution of the doctrinal topics (mātikā). The Ābhidhammikas were the later Buddhist disciples of Gotama Buddha who compiled and systematized the Abhidhammapiṭaka through a long duration of time in the history of Indian Buddhism. The fourth article is ‘ Discernment of the Treasure of Anhidhamma’ presented by Wong Weng Hon. The following key ideas are examined:
In the Reflections Section, Paramartha contributes his work on’ Language and Reality ‘ – an important topic in Abhidhammic Studies. The article highlights and apologizes the philosophical platform of Gotama Buddha that language does not mirror the real truth and yet its utility can not be discarded. In actuality ,language deludes and obsesses the ordinary worldlings. It also engenders grasping or clinging upon the five aggregates as This is I; This is Mine; This belongs to Me. Language is pertinent to describe static phenomena but it becomes obsolete when it comes to elucidate the ineffable, dynamic (impermanent),mutable contigent phenomena embodied within the infinite cosmos. Ultimately,the cosmos is a Unity not a multiplicity. The Unity is the absolute Truth. The multiplicity is a cosmic illusion unveiled by all esoteric religions. The Poem on ‘Actuality of the World of Experience’ is a work of dedicatory verses composed specially to be dedicated to the writer’s former teacher of great prominence. He is none other than Prof.Dr.Y.Karunadasa who taught him during the undergraduate days. Prof. Y.Karunasada’s lectures on the Dhammavāda, Paṭiccasamuppāda and Nibbāna had exerted enormous imprints on his mind while he was still an undergraduate perceiving a glimpse of light in the tunnel. That light is great turning point in his life. The dedicatory verses are the expressions of heartfelt gratitude and thanks from learner to a Master. Prof. Y.Karunadasa’s excellent lectures have benefited, inspired and motivated many university Buddhist students to take up Buddhist Studies seriously to fulfill the aspirations of personal development and Dhammaduta works. The high level of technicality and scholasticism of the exposition of Theravāda Abhidhamma philosophy may have extinguished the initial spark of fire of interest and enthusiasm of the general readers. But to those very serious and scholastically inclined Buddhist students, researchers, intelligentsia ,and scholars or savants, Abhidhamma philosophy is indeed a great nutrition to their minds and facilitates vertical spiritual evolution for the genuine Buddhist cultivators or practitioners. Abhidhamma is a treasure which unveils the microcosm of the human personality leading to the intuitive discernment of the macrocosm of the cosmos. Most importantly, it liberates the wise to destroy their fallibilities due to the mind diseases of perversions and grasping and to manifest their infallibilities. All human species are innately infallible and supreme!
Wong Weng Hon   
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