Abhidharmasamuccaya: The Compendium of the Higher Teaching (Philosophy)

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Summary: A Mahayana Abhidharma
Review: If you have ever wondered about the Mahayana Abhidharma, this book is for you. I mean, if everything is ultimately empty like Mahayana Madhyamaka teaches, or if everything is just thought like Mahayana Yogacara teaches, why bother with the detailed technicalities of the Abhidharma? Well, Asanga, founder of the Yogacara branch of Mahayana, must have thought there was good reason to do so, or he would never have bothered to write this book!

There is a story about Asanga and his younger brother Vasubandhu. Vasubandhu had written the Abhidharmakosa, which went on to become the classic of "Hinayana" Abhidharma. Later on, after talking with his older brother Asanga, Vasubandhu converted to Mahayana. He was so mortified at what he had earlier taught, with his great eloquence, that he decided to cut out his tongue. Asanga dissuaded him from doing so, telling him to use his eloquence to spread the Mahayana. So goes the story.

Asanga had by then apparently already written the Abhidharmasamuccaya. But despite the story, this book seems to have a lot in common with his brother's Abhidharmakosa. I guess that is because the Abhidharma, whether Hinayana or Mahayana, contains the basic teachings of the Buddha. I do get the sense that the Abhidharmakosa is a compendium of the basic Buddhist teachings that was skillfully put together, after these teachings were sorted out, by a brilliant thinker, Vasubandhu; while the Abhidharmasamuccaya is a compendium of the basic Buddhist teachings that was put together by a practiced meditator, Asanga. Both of these books are heavy going, but nonetheless fascinating to read and compare.