The Mysterious Acariya Anuruddha

Discussion of Abhidhamma and related Commentaries
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danieLion
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The Mysterious Acariya Anuruddha

Post by danieLion »

Who was Acariya Anuruddha (author of the Abhidhammattha Sangaha)? Where did he live? When did he live?
Kindly,
dL
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Ben
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Re: The Mysterious Acariya Anuruddha

Post by Ben »

From the introduction of Bhikkhu Bodhi's edition of CMA:
This work is ascribed to Acariya Anuruddha, a Buddhist savant about whom so little is known that even his country of origin and the exact century in which he lived remain in question.
I haven't been able to find any further details about Acariya Anuruddha. Perhaps those more knowledgeable will be able to shed light for you, Daniel.
All the best,

Ben
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

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danieLion
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Re: The Mysterious Acariya Anuruddha

Post by danieLion »

Thanks Ben,
I'm not criticizing, but I am puzzled why the Abhidhammattha Sangaha is so popular and well respected despite it's mysterious author. Maybe he wanted to downplay himself to highlight the dhamma? Faith in the Triple Gem and even the suttas I understand--but I struggle to trust such anonymity.
Kindly,
dL
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Kare
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Re: The Mysterious Acariya Anuruddha

Post by Kare »

In Pali Literature by K.R. Norman, p. 151, it says:

"... Abhidhammatthasangaha, which is attributed to Anuruddha, who is said to have been a native of Ceylon. The fact that a paraphrase of this work was compiled by Sariputta, who lived during the reign of Parakkamabahu I (AD 1153-86), gives a lower limit for its date, and we shall probably not be far wrong if we assume that Anuruddha lived at the end of the eleventh century or the beginning of the twelfth."

Of course, the Sariputta mentioned here, was not the famous Sariputta, disciple of the Buddha.
Mettāya,
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Ben
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Re: The Mysterious Acariya Anuruddha

Post by Ben »

danieLion wrote:Thanks Ben,
I'm not criticizing, but I am puzzled why the Abhidhammattha Sangaha is so popular and well respected despite it's mysterious author. Maybe he wanted to downplay himself to highlight the dhamma? Faith in the Triple Gem and even the suttas I understand--but I struggle to trust such anonymity.
Kindly,
dL
Hi Daniel,
Personally, I think that its hazy provenance is fairly typical of a lot of ancient literature - Buddhist or non-Buddhist. And with a lot of works I think the old adage "the proof of the pudding is in its eating" applies. My recommendation if you have not done so - avail yourself a copy of Bhikkhu Bodhi's edition. His detailed scholarly notes does provide a great deal of context regarding the Abhidhammattha Sangaha which may help you to understand the Abhidhamma and its high regard in traditional Theravadin cultures - even if you come away still convinced that it is not for you.
kind regards,

Ben
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

e: [email protected]..
danieLion
Posts: 1947
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Re: The Mysterious Acariya Anuruddha

Post by danieLion »

Kare,
Thanks. That helps.

Ben,
I've been reading the CMA which is part of the reason I was wondering about Anuruddah. I like the CMA, per se, but its differences from the suttanta method are at times puzzling to me. However, the differences are very minor compared to the similarities. I'll keep at it and try to reserve judgment 'til finished. I already find it particularly hepful in terms of practicing with kusala/akusula as they relate to vedanā and as they in turn relate to vossagga, patinissagga and nekkhamma.
Kindly,
dL
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Ben
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Re: The Mysterious Acariya Anuruddha

Post by Ben »

Hi Daniel,
No worries, I am glad you are reading CMA. As I alluded earlier, one of the aspects of the work that I greatly valued was the explanation by Bhikkhu Bodhi which not only made the Abhidhamma a little more understandable but also understanding the place and role of the Abhidhamma in the corpus of Theravada theory and practice.
kind regards,

Ben
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

e: [email protected]..
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Kumara
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Re: The Mysterious Acariya Anuruddha

Post by Kumara »

danieLion wrote:Thanks Ben,
I'm not criticizing, but I am puzzled why the Abhidhammattha Sangaha is so popular and well respected despite it's mysterious author. Maybe he wanted to downplay himself to highlight the dhamma? Faith in the Triple Gem and even the suttas I understand--but I struggle to trust such anonymity.
Kindly,
dL
I don't have an answer for you. Just like to say that it's a reasonable question (and possibly doubt).
pabhaata
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Re: The Mysterious Acariya Anuruddha

Post by pabhaata »

Achariya Anuruddha Thera wrote the Abhidhammattha Sangaha in Kanchipuram, near present day Chennai in South India. he was a tamil. you can find some material about this in the BPS Wheel Publication No. 124/125. that he is of south indian origin is well-known in buddhist countries.
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