Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s6.t2.7

v1.c7.s6.t2.7

**Abhidharmakosa**: One of the five important classics of Tibetan Buddhism and its full name is *Abhidharma Abhidharmakosa*, of which *Abhidharma* (mngon pa) refers to the abhisamaya doctrines and arguments, and the word *Abhidharmakosa* has the meaning of hiding Tibetan and treasure-house. Whether Han Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism or Southern Buddhism, they all have such *tripitakas* as *sutra-pitaka*, *vinaya-pitaka* and *Abhidhamma pitaka*, and all that have formed a complete theoretical system and practical method of all sects of Buddhism. And *Abhidharmakosa Sastra* belongs to *Abhidhamma pitaka* and is classified into the Tengyur in the Tibetan Tripitaka, which is the India monk Taetok's commentary on *sutra-pitaka* and *vinaya-pitaka* taught by the Buddha and the further explanation of “Four Noble Truths” in the first part of Dharma-chakra. As Theravada's view in *Abhidharmakosa Sastra* says, it is a kind of Buddhist theory with its content mainly about Theravada Buddhism and an indispensable and important part of Buddhist Tripitaka. As one of the five important classics of Tibetan Buddhism, *Abhidharmakosa Sastra* has become an important study content of Tibetan Buddhism.