Kathāvatthu

Kathāvatthu (“Points of Controversy”) is the fifth book of the Abhidhamma Piṭaka in the Theravāda Buddhist Canon. Traditionally attributed to the Elder Moggaliputta Tissa during the reign of King Aśoka, this work examines and refutes a wide range of doctrinal views held by various early Buddhist schools. Structured as a series of debates, the Kathāvatthu preserves valuable records of the intellectual and philosophical discussions that shaped the development of early Buddhism. As one of the most important sources for the study of Buddhist doctrinal history, it offers profound insights into the formation of orthodox Theravāda thought and the diversity of early Buddhist traditions.