Visuddhimagga
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The Visuddhimagga (The Path of Purification) is a Theravada Buddhist commentary written by Buddhaghosa approximately in 430 CE in Sri Lanka. It is considered the most important Theravada text outside of the Tipitaka canon of scriptures.[1] The Visuddhimagga's structure is based on the Ratha-vinita Sutta ("Relay Chariots Discourse," MN 24), which describes the progression from the purity of discipline to the nibbana, considering seven steps.[2]
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[edit] Summary
It is composed of four parts, which discuss: 1) Sila (discipline); 2) Samādhi (meditative concentration); 3) The land of wisdom; and 4) Pañña (wisdom).
- The first part explains the rules of discipline, and the method for finding a correct temple to practice, or how to meet a good teacher.
- The second part describes samatha's practice, object by object (see Kammatthana for the list of the forty traditional objects). It mentions different stages of concentration.
- The third part is a description of the five skandhas (aggregates), ayatanas, the Four Noble Truths and the dependent origination (see: Pratitya-samutpada). This part shows a great analytical effort specific to Buddhist philosophy.
- The fourth part describes the practice of vipassana through the development of wisdom. It emphasizes different forms of knowledge emerging because of the practice.
[edit] Seven Stages of Purification
This comparison between practice and "seven relay chariots" points at the goal. Each purity is needed to attain the next. They are often referred to as the "Seven Stages of Purification" (satta-visuddhi).
- Purification of Conduct (sila-visuddhi)
- Purification of Mind (citta-visuddhi)
- Purification of View (ditthi-visuddhi)
- Purification by Overcoming Doubt (kankha-vitarana-visuddhi)
- Purification by Knowledge and Vision of What Is Path and Not Path (maggamagga-ñanadassana-visuddhi)
- Purification by Knowledge and Vision of the Course of Practice (patipada-ñanadassana-visuddhi)
- Purification by Knowledge and Vision (ñanadassana-visuddhi)
[edit] The Progress of Insight (Visuddhiñana-katha)
The Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw (U Sobhana Mahathera), an eminent Burmese master, composed a text in 1950 called The Progress of Insight (Visuddhiñana-katha) based on the Visuddhimagga, with the following stages of progress delineated:[3]
- Purification of Conduct (sila-visuddhi)
- Purification of Mind (citta-visuddhi)
- Purification of View (ditthi-visuddhi)
- Analytical Knowledge of Body and Mind (nama-rupa-pariccheda-ñana)
- Purification by Overcoming Doubt (kankha-vitarana-visuddhi)
- Knowledge by Discerning Conditionality (paccaya-pariggaha-ñana)
- Knowledge by Comprehension (sammasana-ñana)
- Knowledge of Arising and Passing Away (udayabbaya-ñana) in its weak stage, involving the Ten Corruptions of Insight
- Purification by Knowledge and Vision of What Is Path and Not Path (maggamagga-ñanadassana-visuddhi)
- Purification by Knowledge and Vision of the Course of Practice (patipada-ñanadassana-visuddhi) (including mature Knowledge of Arising and Passing Away)
- Knowledge of Dissolution (bhanga-ñana)
- Awareness of Fearfulness (bhayatupatthana-ñana)
- Knowledge of Misery (adinava-ñana)
- Knowledge of Disgust (nibbida-ñana)
- Knowledge of Desire for Deliverance (muncitu-kamyata-ñana)
- Knowledge of Re-observation (patisankhanupassana-ñana)
- Knowledge of Equanimity about Formations (sankhar'upekkha-ñana)
- Insight Leading to emergence (vutthanagamini-vipassana-ñana)
- Knowledge of Adaptation (anuloma-ñana)
- Maturity Knowledge (gotrabhu-ñana)
- Purification by Knowledge and Vision (ñanadassana-visuddhi)
- Path Knowledge (magga-ñana)
- Fruition Knowledge (phala-ñana)
- Knowledge of Reviewing (paccavekkhana-ñana)
- Attainment of Fruition (phalasamapatti)
- The Higher Paths and Fruitions
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ See, for instance, Upatissa et al. (1995), p. xliii: "The Visuddhimagga is a household word in all Theravāda lands. No scholar of Buddhism whether of Theravāda or of Mahāyāna is unacquainted with it."
- ^ See Thanissaro (1999) for a translation of the Ratha-vinita Sutta. See the various Visuddhimagga printings listed below to see the manner in which this sutta is explicitly integrated into the work.
- ^ "The Progress of Insight: (Visuddhiñana-katha)", by The Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw, translated from the Pali with Notes by Nyanaponika Thera. Access to Insight, June 7, 2009, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/mahasi/progress.html
[edit] References
[edit] Printed Pali editions
- Hewavitarne Bequest edition, Colombo, Sri Lanka (Sinhalese script)
- Hanthawaddy Press edition, Rangoon, Myanmar (Burmese script)
- Royal Siamese edition, Bangkok, Thailand (Thai script)
- Pali Text Society edition, London, England (Roman script)
- Harvard University Press edition, Harvard Oriental Studies, Vol. 41, Cambridge, Mass., 1950 (Roman script)
[edit] English translations
- The Path of Purity, Pe Maung (trans.), Pali Text Society, London, 3 vols., 1922-31
- Bhadantacariya Buddhaghosa, Bhikkhu Nanamoli (trans.), The Path of Purification, BPS-Pariyatti Editions, Onalaska, WA (Buddhist Publication Society), 1999. ISBN 1-928706-01-0.
- Buddhist Meditation, Edward Conze (trans.), NB: Partial translation, 2002, ISBN 81-215-0781-2
[edit] Other translations
- der Weg zur Reinheit, Nyanatiloka & Verlag Christiani (trans.), Konstanz, 1952 (German)
- Sinhala Visuddhimargaya, Pandita Matara Sri Dharmavamsa Sthavira, Matara, Sri Lanka, 1953 (Sinhalese)
- Le chemin de la pureté, Christian Maës, Fayard 2002 (Français)
[edit] Other references
- Thanissaro Bhikkhu (trans.) (1999). Ratha-vinita Sutta: Relay Chariots (MN 24). Available at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/sutta/majjhima/mn024-tb0.html.
- Upatissa, Arahant and N.R.M. Ehara (trans.), Soma Thera (trans.) and Kheminda Thera (trans.) (1995). The Path of Freedom (Vimuttimagga). Kandy, Sri Lanka: Buddhist Publication Society. ISBN 955-24-0054-6.
[edit] External links
- The Path of Purification, Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Nanamoli - first 90 pages.
- The Path of Purity, a translation of Buddhaghosa's Visuddhimagga by Pe Maung Tin
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