論（アビダルマ）を読む必要性
The necessity of reading the Abhidharma
2023-10-19 18:00:00
The Abhidharma generally refers to the compilation of studies conducted by later generations (after the period of sectarian Buddhism) regarding the meanings and foundations of the principles and established precepts preached by the Buddha.
Among the famous Abhidharma texts from the Mahayana Buddhism onwards, the following can be mentioned:
Nagarjuna's Madhyamaka texts such as ‘Zhōng Lùn: The Treatise on the Middle Way or Madhyamaka-śāstra,’ ‘Bǎi Lùn: The Treatise on the Hundred Dharmas or Śata-śāstra, ’ ‘Dà Zhìdù Lùn: The Treatise on the Great Wisdom or Mahāprajñāpāramitā-śāstra,’ ‘Shí Zhù Pí Bō Shā Lùn: The Treatise on the Ten Stages or Daśabhūmika-vibhāṣā-śāstra,’
as well as the Yogacara texts such as ‘Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra: Treatise on the Seventeen Stages,’ ‘Shōdaijōron: Mahayanasamgraha,’ and ‘Jōyuishikiron: Vijnaptimatratasiddhi.’
Now, is it beneficial for Buddhist practitioners to read these treatises?
Of course, it is likely that each treatise was written with the hope that it would be beneficial for practice. However, what is the truth of the matter?
In conclusion, it would be fair to say that it is not strictly necessary for practitioners to read these treatises.
Because the treatises do not contain descriptions of the true Dharma, and therefore cannot lead to enlightenment, some practitioners may be misled by the descriptions in the treatises and mistakenly believe that they are directly beneficial to enlightenment.
This is because while treatises are typically systematically and logically structured, actual enlightenment is a subtle process involving twists and turns through the journey of pilgrimage, and it is not a matter of reaching it through systematic learning according to a curriculum.
Therefore, practitioners who are fixated on the descriptions in the treatises may run the risk of their practice stagnating and not progressing.
Of course, it can be inferred that there were historically significant reasons for the writing of the treatises. However, it may not be an overstatement to say that this has little to do with the practitioners' actual practice, and ultimately, the attainment or non-attainment of enlightenment.
For Buddhist practitioners, the essential thing is to firmly chew on, understand, and develop correct faith in the words of the Dharma as expounded by the Tathagata, and to accumulate merit day by day.
Based on this, I (= SRKW Buddha) do not particularly recommend Buddhist practitioners to read treatises.
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