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Abhidharma
The Abhidharma is the third of the three divisions or “baskets” of the Tripiṭaka or Buddhist Canon. Its Dharma is organized thematically and logically; it can be said to be a systematic exposition of Buddhist psychology of mind.

The Abhidharma taught by the Buddha is in the seven books of the Abhidharma-piṭaka. Later Abhidharma includes systematic treatises by enlightened masters. The most well-known of the Theravadan Abhidharma treatises is the Abhidharmakośa by the Venerable Vasubandhu. Among the most widely studied of Mahayana Abhidharma treatises is the Treatise on Consciousness Only (Cheng Weishi Lun) by Tripiṭaka Master Xuanzang.

According to the Abhidharmakośa, “Abhidharma is the immaculate prajñā [i.e., wisdom] with its retinue” (Vasubandhu, 5). “In common use, the Abhidharma designates all prajñā that makes one obtain the Abhidharma in its proper sense” (Vasubandhu, 7).

Chinese / Sanskrit / Pali Terms

阿毗達摩 ; Abhidharma ; Abhidhamma

“Abhi” means “paired,” and “dharma,” which is variously translated, is of two types: one, Dharma in the supreme sense, that is, nirvana, which is both wholesome and permanent, and so is called “supreme”; two, dharma of dharma marks, which coincides with the Four Sagely Truths.… (FAS-PII 97)

The paired Dharma Store has the special name “wisdom śāstra.” The old translation [into Chinese] means “incomparable dharma.” That is because it portrays wisdom as supreme. (FAS-PII 103)