Visuddhimagga

Category: Buddhaghosa

From Buddhist Encyclopedia

The Visuddhimagga (The path to purity) is a commentary written by Ven. Buddhaghosa approximately in 430 CE in Sri Lanka. It is one of the most important Theravada text outside of the Pali Canon. The Visuddhimagga is based on the Rathavinita Sutta, which describes the progression from the purity of discipline to the nirvana, considering seven steps.

It is composed of four parts, which discuss

1. Sila (discipline);
2. Samadhi (meditative concentration);
3. Prajna (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 master.
• 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 precious 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.

Seven steps

This comparison between practice and "seven relay chariots" points at the goal. Each purity is needed to attain the next.

1. Purity in terms of virtue
2. Purity in terms of mind (that is, concentration)
3. Purity in terms of view
4. Purity in terms of the overcoming of perplexity
5. Purity in terms of knowledge and vision of what is and what is not the path
6. Purity in terms of knowledge and vison of the way
7. Purity in terms of knowledge and vision
8. Unbinding through lack of clinging

Even purity in terms of knowledge and vision is simply for the sake of unbinding through lack of clinging.

Book

• Visudhimagga: The Path of Purification by Bhadantacariya Buddhaghosa in the 5th century CE.