2000 Abhidhamma Jnr1 Part 2 Qn 1

Explain the difference between the Sutta and the Abhidhamma Pitaka

The Abhidhamma Pitaka has 7 books while the Sutta Pitaka has 5 books.

The Abhidhamma Pitaka uses ultimate teachings to introduce absolute realities while the Sutta Pitaka uses conventional teachings to introduce apparent realities.

The Abhidhamma Pitaka is more refined, detailed and systematic while the Sutta Pitaka uses stories, similies and metaphors.

The Abhidhamma Pitaka does not take into account the capacity of the understanding of the listeners while the Sutta Pitaka relates to different leves of understandings.

The Abhidhamma Pitaka expounds realities experience through the 6 sense doors while the Sutta Pitaka talks about realities appearing through the 6 sense doors.

The Abhidhamma Pitaka describes and explains phenomena while the Sutta Pitaka expounds cause and effect.

The Abhidhamma Pitaka's scope is the 5 aggregates, 12 Sense Bases, 18 Elements etc and are classified fully, while the Sutta Pitaka's scope is the same but classified partially.

The Abhidhamma Pitaka is the literal or unembelllished discourse on the Dhamma (Nipariyaya Dhammadesana) while the Sutta Pitaka is a figurative or embellished/enhanced discourse on the Dhamma (Pariyaya Dhammadesana).

The Abhidhamma Pitaka uses terns which are ontological ultimates and uses irreducible components of existence of mind and matter, while the Sutta Pitaka uses terms which are not ontological ultimates and uses conceptual thoughts as in I, you, man, women etc....