Visuddhimagga (the pah of purification)
by Ñāṇamoli Bhikkhu | 1956 | 388,207 words | ISBN-10: 9552400236 | ISBN-13: 9789552400236
This page describes Introduction (the eight knowledges) of the section Purification by Knowledge and Vision of the Way of Part 3 Understanding (Paññā) of the English translation of the Visuddhimagga (‘the path of purification’) which represents a detailled Buddhist meditation manual, covering all the essential teachings of Buddha as taught in the Pali Tipitaka. It was compiled Buddhaghosa around the 5th Century.
Introduction (the eight knowledges)
1. [639] Now, insight reaches its culmination with the eight knowledges, and knowledge in conformity with truth[1] is ninth; these are what is called purification by knowledge and vision of the way.
The eight should be understood as follows:
- knowledge of contemplation of rise and fall, which is insight free from imperfections and steady on its course,
- knowledge of contemplation of dissolution,
- knowledge of appearance as terror,
- knowledge of contemplation of danger,
- knowledge of contemplation of dispassion,
- knowledge of desire for deliverance,
- knowledge of contemplation of reflection, and
- knowledge of equanimity about formations.[2]
“Knowledge in conformity with truth as ninth” is a term for conformity.
So one who wants to perfect this should make these kinds of knowledge his task, starting with knowledge of rise and fall free from imperfections.
2. But why does he again pursue knowledge of rise and fall? To observe the [three] characteristics. The knowledge of rise and fall already dealt with, being disabled by the ten imperfections, was not capable of observing the three characteristics in their true nature; but once freed from imperfections, it is able to do so. So he should pursue it again here in order to observe the characteristics. [640]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
“He calls conformity knowledge ‘knowledge in conformity with truth’ because it is suitable for penetrating the truths owing to the disappearance of the grosser darkness of delusion that conceals the truths” (Vism-mhṭ 822). The term saccānulomikañāṇa—“knowledge in conformity with truth,” occurs at Vibh 315. The term anulomañāṇa—“conformity knowledge,” occurs in the Paṭṭhāna (Paṭṭh I 159), but not elsewhere in the Piṭakas apparently.
[2]:
“Knowledge of rise and fall that has become familiar should be understood as belonging to full-understanding as abandoning. The contemplation of only the dissolution of formations is contemplation of dissolution; that same contemplation as knowledge is knowledge of contemplation of dissolution. One who, owing to it, sees things as they are is terrified, thus it is terror. The knowledge that seizes the terrifying aspect of states of the three planes when they appear as terrifying is knowledge of appearance as terror. One desires to be delivered, thus it is one desiring deliverance: that is, either as a consciousness or as a person. His (its) state is desire for deliverance. That itself as knowledge is knowledge of desire for deliverance. Knowledge that occurs in the mode of reflecting again is knowledge of contemplation of reflection. Knowledge that occurs as looking on (upekkhanā) at formations with indifference (nirapekkhatā) is knowledge of equanimity (upekkhā) about formations” (Vism-mhṭ 822–23).