Chapter 2
The Explanation of the Dharmas
The Classifications of the Teachings of the Buddha

The teachings of the Buddha are diveded into twelve sections: sutra, verse narration, exposition, stanzas, solemn expression, situations, legends, original occasions, career of a Bodhisattva - rebirth stories (sanskrit: jataka), expansive, miraculous tales, instructions. All of these different types of teaching make up the tripitaka.
«  The sutra pitaka was established so as to counteract the minor mental obscuration (skt: upaklesha) of doubt. The vinaya pitaka teaching ethical discipline was established so as to counteract the minor mental obscuration of attachment to the two extremes (of pain and pleasure). The abhidharma pitaka was established so as to counteract the minor mental obscuration of attachment to one's own views. »
Asanga: L'Abhidharmasamuccaya

Asanga devides the Buddhist teaching into the collection for disciples (Shravaka) and the collection for Bodhisattvas.

For example, the section called upadesha, which are the instructions of the Buddha, are included within the abhidharma tripitaka of the Shravakas as well as of the Bodhisattvas'. The jatakas, which relate Buddha's former lives when still a Bodhisattva, are to be found in the section of the « career of a Bodhisattva ».

Asanga defines the « object of Dharma » in four points, showing interested followers how Buddha's teaching should be studied, thereby giving in detail a fruitful manner of integrating the dharma. His methods of acquiring knowledge and of investigation apply to studying the scriptures as well as to meditative contemplation.

« In his meditative absorption, the Bodhisattva sees that images are simply mind. Getting rid of the notion of object, perceiving simply his own thinking, and establishing mind in itself, he understands the absence of that which is grasped (the object) and of that which is doing the grasping (the subject). He then experiences the knowledge which cannot be grasped. »
Asanga: L'Abhidharmasamuccaya

The last part of the chapter is devoted to the « praise of vaipulya », the « basis of wellbeing and happiness of all beings », that is the collection of the perfected qualities (skt: paramita, tib: pha rol tu phyin pa) of the Bodhisattvas. It gives also the reasons why some fear the generation of the perfections of the bodhisattvas, and why others, though attracted by it, cannot attain perfection.
Within this discussion is to be found a list of 28 erroneous views, which can come up in the mind of a Bodhisattva who studied the Dharma superficially, not getting beyond the words.

Chapter 3
The Explanation of the Attainments

This chapter contains two parts: the definition of the individuals and the defintion of their understanding.

1. The Definition of the Individuals

Asanga establishes several classifications of individuals according to various criteria.

There are seven types of individuals: according to their character and predominant mental obscuration, as there are: those under the influence of either (1.)concupiscence or (2.)aggression, (3.)ignorance, (4.)pride or (5.) distraction/ reasoning. The others are (6.) of balanced character or (7.) have little passions.

A classification according to the fruit that will be obtained by the practice of the path gives three categories: The followers of the Shravaka path, of the Pratyekabuddha path and of the Mahayana, the Bodhisattva path.

As receptacles of the teaching, there are those who have not yet obtained the provisions, those who have at the same time obtained and not obtained the provisions, and finally those who have obtained them.

According to the application of the Dharma, there are those who follow the instructions of their spiritual master with faith and confidence, and others who progress on the path by developing their understanding of reality through rigorous studies and their sharp intelligence.

A classification of the levels of realization and knowledge, which are the results of the practice of the path, gives twenty seven types of individuals, for example those who attained the vision, those-who-entered-the-stream, and so on, up until the different levels of arhat and the different levels of realization on the Mahayana path.

Concerning the different worlds and realms, the individuals are classified as belonging to the realm of desire, of form or of the formless realm

Concerning the career, there are five types of Bodhisattvas, such as the Bodhisattva guided by inclination, the Bodhisattva supported by strong resolution, and so on.

2. The Definition of Understanding

The understanding (sanskrit: abhisamaya ; tib: mngon rtogs) is presented in ten points

1.Understanding of the doctrin
2.Understanding of the meaning
3.Understanding of the real state
4.Understanding of the after-state
5.Understanding of the Three Jewels
6.Understanding which ends one's coursing in samsaric existence
7.Perfect understanding
8.Understanding of the Shravakas
9.Understanding of the Pratyekabuddhas
10.Understanding of the Bodhisattvas

Among these ten, the understanding of the Bodhisattvas is studied in great detail. For example, in order to see the differences between the understanding of a Shravaka and a Bodhisattva, the spiritual qualities of the latter are explained, such as the four limitless qualities, the four kinds of discriminative knowledge, the six kinds of super knowledge, the eighteen qualities of a Buddha, and so on.

«  The Bodhisattva has accepted countless rebirths for the sake of others. He destroys the obstructions to knowledge, but not the obstructions to mental obscurations (klesha). Nevertheless he remains pure like an arhat. »
Asanga: L'Abhidharmasamuccaya

Chapter 4
The Explanation of Dialectics

In this chapter on rethorical skill, Asanga treats methods for recognizing and deciding the meaning of a text, for explaining a sutra, methods of analytic demonstration, methods for treating questions, for deciding among groups, for deciding on the subject matter or controversy, and methods for deciding on the profound and secret meaning of certain passages in the sutras .

« This section on the art of debate (skt : vada ; tib : rtsod pa) by Asanga may be considered the first essay on the Buddhist logic that Dignaga and Dharmakirti came to systematize, develop, and perfect later. »
Walpola Rahula: The Anthology of Special Topics of Knowledge by Asanga

It introduces the later development of logic and the study of cognition in Indian Buddhism. Asanga presents the art of debate under seven rubrics:

1.what is a debate or discussion,
2.the circumstances under which a discussion should take place,
3.the subject of discussion (the things to prove, and the proof),
4.the ornaments of discussion: the qualities to develop such as erudition, eloquence, etc.
5.he defines what is a defeat in discussion
6.how to leave the discussion
7.and useful qualities in a discussion (extensive knowledge, self-confidence, lively mind, etc.)

Finally Asanga advises only to engage in debate in order to acquire knowledge for one self, but guard against debating for the mere pleasure of arguing.

This concludes our presentation the works on the subject of Abhidharma.

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