Treasury of a Modern Abhidharma (The writings of Jim Berg, MD)

What words can truly capture the wisdom of our teachers? We give thanks to those who have come before us and offer sincere insights to those who will follow. A "dharma" is a path of righteous insight that deserves our most diligent discipline. Over 2000 years ago, the Buddha provided profound insight into his Dharma, a path free from suffering caused by mental and emotional afflictions. Over many years, he elaborated on his Dharma through numerous teachings. Since then, countless schools of monks, scholars, and laypeople have interpreted the Buddha's words, adding their own insights to refine the way to alleviate human suffering. Sutras, commentaries on sutras, and commentaries on those commentaries fill the vast body of writings. Among these, a group of canonical texts that expound the higher doctrines is known as the "Abhidharma." "Abhi-" means a great, mighty, supreme way towards... in this case, the Dharma. Many times, Buddha pointed out that the path to happiness or despair lies within our minds. An Abhidharma is a detailed map of the mind, and its mental processes that cause afflictions, and it recommends their antidotes. There are numerous versions, interpretations, translations, and histories. An Abhidharma is written deeply and completely, meant to be contemplated through both reason and meditation. Ideas are connected into conceptions, and concepts into understandings, and understandings promote our insight. These texts aid our insight to guide our choices that support right view, right intention, right speech, right livelihood, right action, right diligence, right mindfulness, and right concentration. The journey requires skillful effort in morality, wisdom, and meditation to overcome conditioned afflictions, and to cultivate virtues. This is the heart of what an Abhidharma expounds upon. This modern Abhidharma honors the ancient ones, for it is their insights that have brought us here. It supplements traditional Buddhist psychology with a contemporary understanding into human afflictions, their causes, and remedies. Enlightenment is not easy to attain. The way of Dharma is complex, challenging, and a narrow path that only a few can follow with a mighty discipline. Gradually, aspiration can solidify into diligence through correct views and sincere intention. This Treasury of a Modern Abhidharma is a contemporary map of human minds, offering insights into wholesome virtues and ways to control harmful vices. Each piece is like a pearl of knowledge, strung together into a garland of Buddha-Dharma insights. The value of this treasure of pearls is for the insight of the beholder to appreciate.