Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

THE PATH OF FREEDOM(Vimuttimagga)ofARAHANT UPATISSATranslated from the ChineseRev.byN. R. M. EHARASOMA THERAKHEMINDA THERAThe Vimuttimagga is probably thework of a famous Buddhist monk ofCeylon living in the first century afterChrist. The original text in the Pali nolonger exists; but the work has survivedin a sixth century Chinese translation;and it is from this that the presenttranslation has been made.In contrast to the somewhat academicapproach of the later and betterknown V isuddhimagga.Xht Vimuttimaggagives the impression of having beenwritten by one whose heart was in hiswork. Though it covers approximatelythe same ground as the Visuddhimaggait is marked by a lively sense of urgencyfor which one looks in vain in the laterwork. It is above all a call to practise.This work, which rivals the Visuddhimaggain historical importance (italmost certainly inspired the Visuddhimagga)and in many ways surpasses itas an exposition of the Buddha's teaching,has now for the first time been madegenerally accessible in an English translation.