Girish Mahajan (Editor)

Visuddhimagga

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
8.6
/
10
1
Votes
Alchetron
8.6
1 Ratings
100
90
81
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
Rate This

Rate This

Author
  
Buddhaghoṣa

4.3/5
Goodreads

Visuddhimagga t3gstaticcomimagesqtbnANd9GcS3xzJ5kXg8o96Jg5

Similar
  
Pāli Canon, Vimuttimagga, Majjhima Nikaya, Samyutta Nikaya, Digha Nikaya

Visuddhimagga 3


The Visuddhimagga (Pali; English The Path of Purification), is the 'great treatise' on Theravada Buddhist doctrine written by Buddhaghosa approximately in the 5th Century in Sri Lanka. It is a comprehensive manual condensing and systematizing the theoretical and practical teachings of the Buddha as they were understood by the elders of the Mahavihara Monastery in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is described as "the hub of a complete and coherent method of exegesis of the Tipitaka, using the ‘Abhidhamma method' as it is called. And it sets out detailed practical instructions for developing purification of mind." (Bhikkhu Nyanamoli 2011 p. xxvii.) It is considered the most important Theravada text outside of the Tipitaka canon of scriptures.

Contents

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 final destination of nibbana in seven steps.

Summary

It is composed of three sections, which discuss: 1) Sīla (ethics or discipline); 2) Samādhi (meditative concentration); 3) Pañña (understanding or wisdom).

  • The first section (part 1) explains the rules of discipline, and the method for finding a correct temple to practice, or how to meet a good teacher.
  • The second section (part 2) 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 section (part 3-7) is a description of the five skandhas (aggregates), ayatanas, the Four Noble Truths, dependent origination (Pratitya-samutpada), and the practice of vipassana through the development of wisdom. It emphasizes different forms of knowledge emerging because of the practice. This part shows a great analytical effort specific to Buddhist philosophy.

    • 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):

    1. Purification of Conduct (sīla-visuddhi)
    2. Purification of Mind (citta-visuddhi)
    3. Purification of View (ditthi-visuddhi)
    4. Purification by Overcoming Doubt (kankha-vitarana-visuddhi)
    5. Purification by Knowledge and Vision of What Is Path and Not Path (maggamagga-ñanadassana-visuddhi)
    6. Purification by Knowledge and Vision of the Course of Practice (patipada-ñanadassana-visuddhi)
      1. Knowledge of contemplation of rise and fall (udayabbayanupassana-nana)
      2. Knowledge of contemplation of dissolution (bhanganupassana-nana)
      3. Knowledge of appearance as terror (bhayatupatthana-nana)
      4. Knowledge of contemplation of danger (adinavanupassana-nana)
      5. Knowledge of contemplation of dispassion (nibbidanupassana-nana)
      6. Knowledge of desire for deliverance (muncitukamyata-nana)
      7. Knowledge of contemplation of reflection (patisankhanupassana-nana)
      8. Knowledge of equanimity about formations (sankharupekka-nana)
      9. Conformity knowledge (anuloma-nana)
    7. Purification by Knowledge and Vision (ñanadassana-visuddhi)
      1. Change of lineage
      2. The first path and fruit
      3. The second path and fruit
      4. The third path and fruit
      5. The fourth path and fruit

    The "Purification by Knowledge and Vision" is the culmination of the practice, in four stages leading to liberation and Nirvana.

    The emphasis in this system is on understanding the three marks of existence, dukkha, anatta, anicca. This emphasis is recognizable in the value that is given to vipassana over samatha, especially in the contemporary vipassana movement.

    Siddhis

    According to scholars, the Visuddhimagga is one of the extremely rare texts within the enormous literatures of various forms of Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism to give explicit details about how spiritual masters were thought to actually manifest supernormal abilities. Abilities such as flying through the air, walking through solid obstructions, diving into the ground, walking on water and so forth are performed by changing one element, such as earth, into another element, such as air. The individual must master kasina meditation before this is possible. Dipa Ma, who trained via the Visuddhimagga, was said to demonstrate these abilities.

    Non-Theravada influences

    Kalupahana notes that the Visuddhimagga contains "some metaphysical speculations, such as those of the Sarvastivadins, the Sautrantikas, and even the Yogacarins". Kalupahana comments:

    Buddhaghosa was careful in introducing any new ideas into the Mahavihara tradition in a way that was too obvious. There seems to be no doubt that the Visuddhimagga and the commentaries are a testimony to the abilities of a great harmonizer who blended old and new ideas without arousing suspicion in the minds of those who were scrutinizing his work.

    References

    Visuddhimagga Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA