Stanley Chen

Master Asanga's Abhidharma Samuchaya is a foundational text in Mahayana Buddhist philosophy, particularly within the Abhidharma tradition. Asanga, a prominent Buddhist scholar and philosopher, composed this work in the 4th century CE as a systematic summary of Abhidharma teachings.

The Abhidharma Samuchaya serves as a concise and comprehensive overview of key Abhidharma concepts and principles, presenting them in a structured and accessible format. Asanga elucidates fundamental aspects of Buddhist psychology, ontology, and epistemology, providing insight into the nature of reality, the workings of the mind, and the path to liberation. The text is divided into chapters that explore various topics, such as the aggregates (skandhas), sense bases (ayatanas), elements (dhatus), and factors of existence (dhammas). Asanga also discusses the nature of suffering (dukkha), the Four Noble Truths, and the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination, among other foundational Buddhist teachings.

One of the distinctive features of the this work is its integration of both Theravada and Mahayana perspectives, reflecting Asanga's synthesis of diverse Buddhist traditions. While rooted in the Abhidharma tradition of early Buddhism, the text incorporates Mahayana insights and interpretations, making it relevant to practitioners of both traditions.

Overall, Abhidharma Samuchaya is valued for its clarity, depth, and systematic presentation of Abhidharma teachings, making it a valuable resource for scholars and practitioners seeking to deepen their understanding of Buddhist philosophy and psychology. It remains an influential text in the study and practice of Buddhism, revered for its profound insights into the nature of reality and the path to awakening.

The Treasure House of Higher Knowledge, or the Abhidharmakosha, as it is known in Sanskrit, is one of the foundational great books of Buddhist philosophy.  It was written by Master Vasubhandu (c. 350 AD) and contains a compilation of much of the philosophical and cosmological ideas that were present in the Buddhist communities in the centuries following the Buddha’s passing.  It presents ideas that range from the formation of the universe and our world to the ideas of actions and their consequences, and how the mind functions to perceive reality.  This work constitutes main text of the Detailist school—the first and “lowest” of the classical four schools of ancient India—and as such provides a foundation upon which all of the classical schools of ancient India rely.

This detailed commentary unlocks the meaning contained within the otherwise cryptic verses of the Abhidharmakosha, illuminating these crucial ideas for the world to understand and use.  This book is vital to gaining a higher understanding of how reality works, as well as being sprinkled with many useful tools that we can apply to our lives immediately.