Abhidhamma and Mind

The Abhidhamma Philosophy of the Theravada Tradition

A course taught by Venerable Bhikkhu Bodhi

Dharma College is happy to announce that it Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi will be continuing the program on the Theravada Abhidhamma philosophy that he started this past January. On January 9 and 10, Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi gave a two-day online program at Dharma College on the first two chapters of the Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma, his annotated edition of the Abhidhammattha-Sangaha. The Sangaha is the primary handbook of Abhidhamma in the Theravada world, used in the monasteries of southern Asia to introduce students to the complex philosophical psychology of the Abhidhamma.

Beginning in July, Ven. Bodhi will continue this series, covering the remaining chapters of the Comprehensive Manual. These deal with such topics as functions and objects of consciousness, the process of consciousness, kamma and rebirth, the material world, and much more. A schedule of the classes can be found below. Most classes will be given on selected Saturdays, but in September the course will be spread out over the three days of the Labor Day weekend.

Each class will be given in two sessions, from 10 am to 12 noon, and from 2 pm to 4 pm PT = 1 pm to 3 pm, and 5 pm to 7 pm. The two sessions are sequential, not repetitions of the same class.

Before joining the classes that begin this summer, it is recommended that students view the recordings of the classes on the first two chapters of the Comprehensive Manual given this past January, on states of consciousness and mental factors. These can be found at: