The Path of Purification: Visuddhimagga

by Buddhaghosa, Bhikkhu Ñaṇamoli (Translator)

One of Buddhism’s foundational texts, the Visuddhimagga is a systematic examination and condensation of Buddhist doctrine and meditation technique. The various teachings of the Buddha found throughout the Pali canon are organized in a clear, comprehensive path leading to the final goal of nibbana, the state of complete purification. Originally composed in the fifth century, this new translation provides English speakers insights into this foundational text. In the course of this treatise full and detailed instructions are given on 40 subjects of meditation aimed at concentration, an elaborate account of Buddhist Abhidhamma philosophy, and explicit descriptions of the stages of insight culminating in final liberation. This replaces 9552400236.

Genres: Buddhism, Spirituality, Philosophy, Religion, Meditation, Nonfiction, Gnosticism

950 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 430

About the author

Bhadantācariya Buddhaghoṣa (Sinhala: බුද්ධගෝෂ හිමි, Thai: พระพุทธโฆษาจารย์, Chinese: 覺音) was a 5th-century Indian Theravadin Buddhist commentator and scholar.

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

A complete, in-depth overview of the entire Buddhist path from first entry to final realization of nirvana, given by an accomplished master of the 5th century AD.

Buddhagosa explains at the start that there are multiple ways of viewing the Buddhist path; he looks at the path as one of progressive purification. The practitioner starts out with a mind that is defiled in a number of ways, and, by training in the dharma of the Buddha, he can purify that mind until it is completely undefiled, at which point he will have become an arahant.

This book is not intended for beginners. The translator, the British monk Nanamoli, suggests that it can serve as a reference work and a guide for teachers. I read the whole thing carefully, cover to cover, and found it to be an amazing and inspiring journey. Buddhagosa sees the path as consisting of 7 stages of purification:

Purification of Virtue
Purification of Consciousness
Purification of View
Purification by Overcoming Doubt
Purification by Knowledge and Vision of What Is and What Is Not the Path
Purification by Knowledge and Vision of the Way
Purification by Knowledge and Vision

By far the largest of these is the Purification of Consciousness, which covers 15 chapters and deals with meditation and its objects. The monk is taught how to quiet his mind so that he attains the jhanas--a series of definite body-mind states that reflect deepening levels of absorption. In these deeply absorbed states, one contemplates particular aspects of the teaching and comes to realize directly its meaning.

The translation itself is a phenomenal achievement, all the more astonishing since the translator produced other works as well, and died in 1960 at the age of only 55. He has left a tremendous treasure to English-speaking Buddhists.

[Ray Tomes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not an easy to read book and is rather advanced. As a reference book on the path of purification, it is a mine of information.

[Llyando · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must have in any Buddhist library. Excellent and well worth the money many times over. Truly a gem of the dhamma.

[Aki Ranin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprised so few have read this book. While not included as part of the “Pali Canon” of Buddhist texts, it is one of the oldest and most complete descriptions of Buddhist philosophy and meditation.

Three things I learned:
1. The internet version of Buddhist meditation leaves a lot of questions about progression that are answered here!
3. There are multiple “paths” In Buddhism, with ongoing debate about the right path. But the takeaway is that there are clear paths to follow as long as you wish to go.
4. There are written, specific instructions on how to achieve a guru’s/Buddha’s “supernormal” powers incl. teleportation and mind reading!

Who should read it:
Anyone interested in (advanced) Buddhist meditation and/or history. While this isn’t for casuals due to its length and dense, procedural style, there are wonderful descriptive passages and poems throughout.

Favorite quote:
“The mind-consciousness element should be regarded as a forest monkey, because it does not stay still on its object; or as a wild horse, because it is difficult to tame; or as a stick flung into the air, because it falls anyhow; or as a stage dancer, because it adopts the guise of the various defilements such as greed and hate.”

[Viriyavaṃsa Bhikkhu · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read Vimuttimagga before attempting to read this on a friend's recommendation, and was shocked at how much Visuddhimagga borrows from it. Vimuttimagga has all the same technical details, and it seems like Buddhaghosa Thera added some anecdotes from Sri Lankan monks at the time to make it seem more of an original work after translating most of the material from the Sanskrit Vimuttimagga to Pali to appease the Mahavihara orthodoxy.

I recommend reading Vimuttimagga first and then browsing Visuddhimagga for the anecdotal stories. Since Vimuttimagga was most likely written around 100AD and Visuddhimagga around 450AD, this would follow the chronological flow of the source material better.

[Gazmend Ceno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hardcore. One of the most important works on the subject. However, it will only yield practical valuable to long term dedicated practitioners, otherwise you better start small. There are simpler text to learn Samatha mediation etc.etc

[Ester]

This is available as an ebook through Google Books