“The Philosophical Psychology of Buddhism”
A Study Retreat in the Abhidhamma, with Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
Last year, over the Labor Day weekend, Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi conducted a retreat on the Abhidhamma, the philosophical psychology of early Buddhism, in which he explored the first two chapters of the Abhidhammattha Sangaha, “A Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma,” the primary work for the study of the Abhidhamma in the Theravada tradition. The first two chapters presented the Abhidhamma analysis of mind and mental factors.
This year, over the Labor Day weekend, Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi will continue to examine the Abhidhamma philosophy, focusing on the middle four chapters of the book. These deal with such topics as the functions, doors, and objects of consciousness (chapter 3); processes of consciousness (chapter 4); planes of existence and their relation to mind and karma (chapter 5); and material phenomena (chapter 6).
The retreat will begin on Friday, August 29th, at 7:00 pm, with registration at 5:00 pm. It will close at 3:00 pm on Wednesday, September 3rd. The evening lecture on August 29th will present a comprehensive overview of the classification of consciousness discussed at last year’s retreat. This will provide the background for the lectures to follow. Thereafter we will launch into the new material.
Date & Time: Start: 8/29/2013, Friday, 7:00pm，Finished：9/3/2013, Wednesday, 3:00 pm
Registration: 8/29/2013, Friday, 5:00pm (Office on the ground floor of the Great Buddha Hall)
Class : Chuang Yen Monastery（Kuan Yin Hall）2020 Route 301, Carmel, NY 10512, Tel:（845）225-1819, Fax:（845）228-4283, E-mail：cym@baus.org
Textbook: The basis for the retreat is A Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma, available from Pariyatti Publications here: http://store.pariyatti.org/Comprehensive-Manual-of-Abhidhamma-A_p_1454.html. It will also be available for $20.00 a copy at the retreat.
Application: Dateline: 8/25/2013, Please visit www.baus.org to register online. Priority will be given to those who can attend the entire retreat. The retreat will feature lectures and discussion periods, question and answer sessions, and several periods of meditation each day. Please register early in order to arrange lodging, meal, and other preparation.
Attention: Please bring your own sleeping bag and all you need for your personal use. Bring light and comfortable clothing for meditation. (fabric would not make a lot of noise, do not wear skirts or shorts); we suggest that you wear shoes without shoelaces for the convenience of entering and existing the hall. CYM is situated on higher ground, the morning and evenings can be quite cool. Please dress warm and make sure you bring your jacket, hat and scarf. Don’t bring any valuable articles as we will not be responsible for any loss.
Fee：Chuang Yen Monastery is run on the basis of donation. A donation is welcome when participants register on the first day, or at the end of the retreat. All offering to the Buddha and Sangha are welcome. If you will sponsor a vegetarian meal, please let us know before the retreat. Arahant Meal $100 / Fortune Meal $200 / Auspiciousness Meal $300 / Wisdom & Compassion Meal $400 / Triple Gem Meal $500 / Peace Meal ($any amount). If you are unable to participate, we welcome your joyfully engagement and merit sharing by sponsoring this retreat. All the donation are tax-deductible, send the check to: 2020 Route 301, Carmel, NY 10512. Please note “Abhidhamma Rretreat” on the bottom of the check.
Class Syllabus:
Session 1. Friday 8/29, 7:00 pm–8:15 pm: Review: the typology of consciousness according to the Abhidhamma system. Chapter I, Analysis of Consciousness, Overview based especially on Table 1.1, p. 28, and Table 1.9, p. 70.
Session 2: Saturday 8/30, 9:00 am–11:20 am: Feelings, roots, and functions of consciousness. Chapter III, Compendium of the Miscellaneous §§1–11.
Session 3: Saturday 8/30, 2:00 pm–3:00 pm: Doors and objects of consciousness. Chapter III, Compendium of the Miscellaneous §§12–17.
Session 4: Saturday 8/30, 3:15 pm–4:15 pm: Objects and bases of consciousness. Chapter III, Compendium of the Miscellaneous §§18–22.
Session 5: Sunday 8/31, 9:00 am–11:20 am: The five-door cognitive process. Chapter IV, Compendium of the Cognitive Process §§1–11.
Session 6: Sunday 8/31, 2:00 pm–3:00 pm: The mind-door cognitive process. Chapter IV, Compendium of the Cognitive Process §§12–16.
Session 7: Sunday 8/31, 3:15 pm–4:15 pm: The procedure of registration; the procedure of javanas. Chapter IV, Compendium of the Cognitive Process §§17, 19–20(omit §18); §§21–23.
Session 8: Monday 9/01, 9:00 am–11:20 am: The Buddhist cosmos and modes of rebirth. Chapter V, Compendium of the Process-Freed §§1–17.
Session 9: Monday 9/01, 2:00 pm–3:00 pm: Kamma: functions, time of ripening, place of ripening. Chapter V, Compendium of the Process-Freed §§18–21.
Session10: Monday 9/01, 3:15 pm–4:15 pm: Kamma: unwholesome and wholesome types. Chapter V, Compendium of the Process-Freed §§22–26.
Session 11: Tuesday 9/02, 9:00 am–11:20 am: Results of kamma. Chapter V, Compendium of the Process-Freed §§27–33.
Session 12: Tuesday 9/02, 2:00 pm–3:00 pm: The process of death & rebirth. Chapter V, Compendium of the Process-Freed §§34–37, 40–41.
Session 13: Tuesday 9/02, 3:15 pm–4:15 pm: Enumeration of material phenomena. Chapter VI, Compendium of Matter§§1–5.
Session 14: Wednesday 9/03, 9:00 am–11:20 am: Origination of matter & groups of matter. Nibbāna. Chapter V, Compendium of Matter§§9–22 (brief treatment), §§30–32. (Omitting §§6–8, §§23–29)
Session 15: Wednesday 9/03, 2:00 pm–3:00 pm: Comprehensive session of Q & A.
Retreat Schedule:
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Friday 8/29 |
Saturday 8/30 |
Sunday 8/31 |
Monday 9/01 |
Tuesday 9/02 |
Wednesday 9/03 |
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4:50 am |
Wake Up |
Wake Up |
Wake Up |
Wake Up |
Wake Up |
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5:30-5:45 am |
Morning service |
Morning service |
Morning service |
Morning service |
Morning service |
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5:45–6:25 am |
Meditation |
Meditation |
Meditation |
Meditation |
Meditation |
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6:30–7:15 am |
Breakfast |
Breakfast |
Breakfast |
Breakfast |
Breakfast |
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7:15–8:00 am |
Clean Up, Walking |
Clean Up, Walking |
Clean Up, Walking |
Clean Up, Walking |
Clean Up, Walking |
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8:15 –9:00 am |
Meditation |
Meditation |
Meditation |
Meditation |
Meditation |
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9:00–11:20 am |
Lecture & discussion Session 2 |
Lecture & discussion Session5 |
Lecture & discussion Session8 |
Lecture & discussion Session11 |
Lecture & discussion Session14 |
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11:30–12 pm |
Lunch |
Lunch |
Lunch |
Lunch |
Lunch |
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12:10–1:00 pm |
Clean Up |
Clean Up |
Clean Up |
Clean Up |
Clean Up |
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1:00–1:30 pm |
Rest & personal study |
Rest & personal study |
Rest & personal study |
Rest & personal study |
Rest & personal study |
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1:40–2:10 pm |
Meditation |
Meditation |
Meditation |
Meditation |
Meditation |
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2:10–3:10 pm |
Lecture & discussion Session 3 |
Lecture & discussion Session6 |
Lecture & discussion Session9 |
Lecture & discussion Session12 |
Overview and Q & A Session15 |
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3:10–3:25 pm |
Tea Break |
Tea Break |
Tea Break |
Tea Break |
Final sharing of merits |
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3:25 pm–4:15 pm |
Lecture & discussion Session4 |
Lecture & discussion Session7 |
Lecture & discussion Session10 |
Lecture & discussion Session13 |
Clean up & depart L |
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4:20 pm–5:00 pm |
Meditation |
Meditation |
Meditation |
Meditation |
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5:00 pm–5:30 pm |
Registration |
Evening service |
Evening service |
Evening service |
Evening service |
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5:30–6:15 pm 6:30–7:00 pm |
Light meal |
Light meal & break |
Light meal & break |
Light meal & break |
Light meal & break |
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Orientation |
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7:00–8:15 pm |
Lecture & Discussion Session 1 |
Q & A from day’s sessions |
Q & A from day’s sessions |
Q & A from day’s sessions |
Q & A from day’s sessions |
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8:15 – 9:00 pm |
Metta Meditation Sharing of merit |
Metta Meditation Sharing of merit |
Metta Meditation Sharing of merit |
Metta Meditation Sharing of merit |
Metta Meditation Sharing of merit |
Return next year, for CMA chapters 7–9 J |