The Abhidhamma
in plain language

Learn the “science of the mind” from the Abhidhamma Piṭaka — consciousness, mental factors, matter, Nibbāna, the cognitive process, kamma and conditionality. Explained simply, step by step from the basics. No knowledge of Pāli needed.

What is the Abhidhamma?

The seven books — Saṅ Vi Dhā Pu Ka Ya Pa Foundations Lesson 2

The four ultimate realities and concepts

What “really exists”, and what is only a name Foundations Lesson 3

Consciousness (citta)

That which knows an object — 89 or 121 types Consciousness Lesson 4

The 52 mental factors (cetasika)

What colours the mind — good, bad or neutral Mental factors Lesson 5

The 12 unwholesome consciousnesses and 14 unwholesome factors

The roots of suffering — greed, hatred, delusion ConsciousnessMental factors Lesson 6

The 8 great wholesome consciousnesses and the beautiful factors

Goodness has levels — even within one act of giving ConsciousnessMental factors Lesson 7

The 28 kinds of matter (rūpa)

Body and material things, as the Abhidhamma sees them Matter & Nibbāna Lesson 8

Nibbāna

The one ultimate reality that is unconditioned Matter & Nibbāna Lesson 9

The cognitive process (vīthi)

What the mind does in the split second of “seeing” Mind process & kamma Lesson 10

Life-continuum, rebirth-linking and death

The stream of consciousness flowing beneath a whole life ConsciousnessMind process & kamma Lesson 11

Javana and the ripening of kamma

Where kamma is made, and when it bears fruit Mind process & kamma Lesson 12

The 31 planes of existence

Where beings can be born — and the planes of the mind Mind process & kamma Lesson 13

Dependent origination (paṭiccasamuppāda)

How suffering arises — the twelve links Conditionality Lesson 14

The Paṭṭhāna: 24 conditions

Nothing arises from a single cause Conditionality Lesson 15

Why study the Abhidhamma?

From the textbook to seeing mind and matter in real life FoundationsPractice Lesson 16

Practising the four foundations of mindfulness

Body, feeling, mind, dhammas — a step-by-step guide Practice Lesson 17

The 16 insight knowledges

The stages of wisdom that arise as the fruit of vipassanā Practice