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Vimuttimagga

January 25, 2023

The Vimuttimagga ("Path of Freedom") is a Buddhist practice manual, traditionally attributed to the Arahant Upatissa (c. 1st or 2nd century[1]). It was translated into Chinese in the sixth century as the Jietuo dao lun 解脫道論 by Sanghapala. The original text (possibly Pali or Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit) is no longer extant, but the work has survived in Chinese. The book was probably written in India and then later brought to Sri Lanka.[1] Some doctrines of the Vimuttimagga have been associated with those attributed to the Abhayagiri monastery by Dhammapāla, but this has been disputed in recent scholarship.[2][3]

Contents

The Vimuttimagga recommends various meditation practices such as Anapanasati, Kasina meditation and Buddha-anussati - recollection of the virtues of the Buddha. Its chapters are (based on the translation by Ehara, Soma & Kheminda):

  1. Introductory Discourse (referencing the three trainings and ultimate freedom)[4]
  2. On Distinguishing Virtue
  3. On Austerities
  4. On Distinguishing Concentration
  5. On Approaching a Good Friend
  6. The Distinguishing of Behavior
  7. The Distinguishing of the Subjects of Meditation
  8. Entrance into the Subject of Meditation
  9. The Five Forms of Higher Knowledge
  10. On Distinguishing Wisdom
  11. The Five Methods (aggregates, sense organs, elements, conditioned arising, truth)
  12. On Discerning Truth

Relationship to the Visuddhimagga

The Vimuttimagga bears a striking similarity to the Visuddhimagga by Buddhaghosa, and it is highly probable that it had an influence on Buddhaghosa.[5] While the Visuddhimagga is a much longer work, both texts differ on several points. According to Bhikkhu Analayo, the Chinese version of the Vimuttimagga states that ascetic practices (dhutanga) can be unwholesome and wholesome while the Visuddhimagga denies that they can be unwholesome, although he notes that the Tibetan Vimuktimārga classifies ascetic practices as "wholesome".[6] A similar difference can be seen with regards to concentration (samādhi) which the Vimuttimagga states can be wholesome or unwholesome (micchā samādhi/邪定) while the Visuddhimagga disagrees that it can be unwholesome.[7] Another major difference is in the scheme of the progress of insight, which the Vimuttimagga arranges based on the Four Noble Truths and the Visuddhimagga arranges based on the seven purifications which stem from the Rathavinīta-sutta.[8]

Minor differences can also be seen in the particular schemes of practice. Upatissa gives four categories of Śīla while Buddhagosa gives five. Upatissa gives four ways of cultivating Anapanasati, while Buddhagosa gives eight.[5] In addition, the Visuddhimagga identifies forty subjects of meditation (kammatthana) while the Vimuttimagga identifies thirty-eight.[9]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Bapat 1937, p. lv.
  2. ^ Analayo 2009, pp. 5–6.
  3. ^ Crosby 1999, pp. 503–550.
  4. ^ This chapter's introductory stanza in Pali is: "'Sīlaṃ samādhi paññā ca, vimutti ca anuttarā; Anubuddhā ime dhammā, gotamena yasassinā.'" This verse can be found in both the Mahāparinibbāna Sutta (DN 16) and the Anubuddha Sutta (AN 4.1). Vajira & Story (1998) translate this verse as: "Virtue, concentration, wisdom, and emancipation unsurpassed — These are the principles realized by Gotama the renowned....'"
  5. ^ a b Bapat 1937, p. lvii.
  6. ^ Analayo 2009, p. 4.
  7. ^ Analayo 2009, pp. 11–12.
  8. ^ Analayo 2009, pp. 9.
  9. ^ Bapat 1937, p. xxx.

References

  • Analayo, Bhikkhu (2009), "The Treatise on the Path to Liberation (解脫道論) and the Visuddhimagga" (PDF), Fuyan Buddhist Studies (4), ISSN 2070-0512
  • Bapat, P.V. (1937), Vimuttimagga and Visuddhimagga - A Comparative Study
  • Crosby, Kate (1999), "History versus Modern Myth: The Abhayagirivihāra, the Vimuttimagga and Yogāvacara Meditation", Journal of Indian Philosophy, 27 – via https://www.scribd.com/document/94761137/The-Abhayagirivihara-The-Vimuttimagga-and-Yogavacara-Meditation-Kate-Crosby {{citation}}: External link in |via= (help)
  • Vajira, Sister; Story, Francis (1998), Maha-parinibbana Sutta: Last Days of the Buddha (DN 16), Access to Insight, retrieved 12 October 2014

External links

English translations

  • The Path to Freedom, Vimuttimagga (Volume I & II) Translated by Bhikkhu N. Nyanatusita. Centre of Buddhist Studies, The University of Hong Kong, 2021.
  • The Path Of Freedom (Vimuttimagga) of Arahant Upatissa Translated from the Chinese by Rev. N. R. M. Ehara, Soma Thera, Kheminda Thera. Buddhist Publication Society. Kandy, Ceylon
  • Vimuttimagga and Visuddhimagga by P. V. Bapat

January 25, 2023
vimuttimagga, path, freedom, buddhist, practice, manual, traditionally, attributed, arahant, upatissa, century, translated, into, chinese, sixth, century, jietuo, 解脫道論, sanghapala, original, text, possibly, pali, buddhist, hybrid, sanskrit, longer, extant, wor. The Vimuttimagga Path of Freedom is a Buddhist practice manual traditionally attributed to the Arahant Upatissa c 1st or 2nd century 1 It was translated into Chinese in the sixth century as the Jietuo dao lun 解脫道論 by Sanghapala The original text possibly Pali or Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit is no longer extant but the work has survived in Chinese The book was probably written in India and then later brought to Sri Lanka 1 Some doctrines of the Vimuttimagga have been associated with those attributed to the Abhayagiri monastery by Dhammapala but this has been disputed in recent scholarship 2 3 Contents EditThe Vimuttimagga recommends various meditation practices such as Anapanasati Kasina meditation and Buddha anussati recollection of the virtues of the Buddha Its chapters are based on the translation by Ehara Soma amp Kheminda Introductory Discourse referencing the three trainings and ultimate freedom 4 On Distinguishing Virtue On Austerities On Distinguishing Concentration On Approaching a Good Friend The Distinguishing of Behavior The Distinguishing of the Subjects of Meditation Entrance into the Subject of Meditation The Five Forms of Higher Knowledge On Distinguishing Wisdom The Five Methods aggregates sense organs elements conditioned arising truth On Discerning TruthRelationship to the Visuddhimagga EditThe Vimuttimagga bears a striking similarity to the Visuddhimagga by Buddhaghosa and it is highly probable that it had an influence on Buddhaghosa 5 While the Visuddhimagga is a much longer work both texts differ on several points According to Bhikkhu Analayo the Chinese version of the Vimuttimagga states that ascetic practices dhutanga can be unwholesome and wholesome while the Visuddhimagga denies that they can be unwholesome although he notes that the Tibetan Vimuktimarga classifies ascetic practices as wholesome 6 A similar difference can be seen with regards to concentration samadhi which the Vimuttimagga states can be wholesome or unwholesome miccha samadhi 邪定 while the Visuddhimagga disagrees that it can be unwholesome 7 Another major difference is in the scheme of the progress of insight which the Vimuttimagga arranges based on the Four Noble Truths and the Visuddhimagga arranges based on the seven purifications which stem from the Rathavinita sutta 8 Minor differences can also be seen in the particular schemes of practice Upatissa gives four categories of Sila while Buddhagosa gives five Upatissa gives four ways of cultivating Anapanasati while Buddhagosa gives eight 5 In addition the Visuddhimagga identifies forty subjects of meditation kammatthana while the Vimuttimagga identifies thirty eight 9 See also EditBuddhaghosa Visuddhimagga Patisambhidamagga Samatha VipassanaNotes Edit a b Bapat 1937 p lv Analayo 2009 pp 5 6 Crosby 1999 pp 503 550 This chapter s introductory stanza in Pali is Silaṃ samadhi panna ca vimutti ca anuttara Anubuddha ime dhamma gotamena yasassina This verse can be found in both the Mahaparinibbana Sutta DN 16 and the Anubuddha Sutta AN 4 1 Vajira amp Story 1998 translate this verse as Virtue concentration wisdom and emancipation unsurpassed These are the principles realized by Gotama the renowned a b Bapat 1937 p lvii Analayo 2009 p 4 Analayo 2009 pp 11 12 Analayo 2009 pp 9 Bapat 1937 p xxx References Edit Analayo Bhikkhu 2009 The Treatise on the Path to Liberation 解脫道論 and the Visuddhimagga PDF Fuyan Buddhist Studies 4 ISSN 2070 0512 Bapat P V 1937 Vimuttimagga and Visuddhimagga A Comparative Study Crosby Kate 1999 History versus Modern Myth The Abhayagirivihara the Vimuttimagga and Yogavacara Meditation Journal of Indian Philosophy 27 via https www scribd com document 94761137 The Abhayagirivihara The Vimuttimagga and Yogavacara Meditation Kate Crosby a href Template Citation html title Template Citation citation a External link in code class cs1 code via code help Vajira Sister Story Francis 1998 Maha parinibbana Sutta Last Days of the Buddha DN 16 Access to Insight retrieved 12 October 2014External links EditEnglish translations Edit The Path to Freedom Vimuttimagga Volume I amp II Translated by Bhikkhu N Nyanatusita Centre of Buddhist Studies The University of Hong Kong 2021 The Path Of Freedom Vimuttimagga of Arahant Upatissa Translated from the Chinese by Rev N R M Ehara Soma Thera Kheminda Thera Buddhist Publication Society Kandy Ceylon Vimuttimagga and Visuddhimagga by P V Bapat Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vimuttimagga amp oldid 1114819412, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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