Venerable Bhikkhu Pandita,
Op 12-okt-2011, om 17:26 heeft ashinpan het volgende geschreven:

> Therefore, the first years of intensive Abhidhammic studies are
> spent with analytical methods similar to maths or logic. The
> psychological/ethical concepts come only at a later stage when we
> have to study the commentarial literature. The practical knowledge
> of Abhidhamma comes much later only.
>
> Having passed through such training, I simply don't know how to
> begin with the last stage. However, the practical knowledge is more
> important for most people, whom I think people like you are much
> more qualified to teach.

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N: I really appreciate your kind and well considered mail. In
Thailand I learnt Abhidhamma from Acharn Sujin beginning with the
"last stage". I learnt: Abhidhamma is not "in the book".
The suttas are full of Abhidhamma, where the Buddha speaks about
seeing, hearing, attachment that arises on account of the object that
is experienced and guarding the sense-doors. Abhidhamma pertains to
seeing at this moment, hearing at this moment and our reactions to
it, being kusala or akusala. Abhidhamma and mindfulness of dhammas
appearing now, which is satipa.t.thaana, go together. We know so
little about seeing, we think of it as my seeing and confuse it with
perceiving persons and things that seem to exist. There is seeing
now, it experiences just what appears through eyesense. Its
characteristic can be "studied" with mindfulness. This is not easy,
but at least we can begin, very gradually. And this is the study of
the Abhidhamma. A lifelong study, and for even more than one life.
I think that we do not have to consider all of the classifications
and all details, but the general principles such as different
processes of cittas and conditions for the phenomena can be of great
help in our daily life.
with appreciation and respect,
Nina.





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