Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

304 Vimuttimaggcicentration, he produces serenity and insight, and also can fulfil the enlighten*ment accessories. Thereby he understands the Truth through the knowledgeof adoption. From that knowledge of adoption the knowledge of the Pathis produced immediately. At that time he can get the concentration ofNibbdna. His mind attains to concentration and develops serenity andinsight and the enlightenment accessories. Therefore it is only through theknowledge of the Path that one can discern the Truth.SIMILE OF THE BURNING CITYIt is like a man stepping across the threshold of the gate of a burningcity. When he has placed one foot outside the city, he is not yet entirelyoutside the city. Thus at that time, the knowledge of adoption arises fromthat object of the formations and passes over to that which is non-formation,But here it cannot be said that he has done with the defilements, becausemany states are yet not perfected. Just as when a man places both his feetoutside the threshold of the gate of the burning city, it can be said that he isout of the burning city, just so when the knowledge of adoption arouses theknowledge of the Path without end, it could be said that one has gone outof the walled city of the defilements, because the states are complete. Therefore,through the knowledge of adoption, one fulfils the discernment of Truth. 1Q. What is meant by discernment? A. The Four Noble Truthsoccur in one moment—this is understanding. Here Path-knowledge andthe balance of the faculties mean equilibrium; the powers mean immovability;the enlightenment factors mean vehicle; the factors of the Eightfold Pathmean cause; the foundations of mindfulness mean dwelling; the right effortsmean distinction; the bases of supernormal power mean contrivance; truthmeans Truth; serenity means non-disturbance; insight means vision; thetwofold means non-separation; the purity of virtue means shielding; thepurity of thought means non-excitement; the purity of views means seeing;skill in wisdom means shedding; illumination of indifference means pervadingeverywhere; the faculty of the knowledge of extinction means completesloughing; uniformity of attention means the development of regeneratedesire; renunciation means the extinction of contact and feeling; concentrationmeans the setting-up in front; 2 mindfulness means shelter; wisdommeans Truth; the sublime means supreme distinction; Nibbdna meansultimate rest.1. Cp. Vis. Mag. 672 f.2. Cp. A. II, 210: Ujurii kdyarh panidhaya parimukham satith upatthapetva (^Parimukhamsatim upatthapetva ti kammatthandbhimukham satirh thapayitva, mukhasamipe yd katvdti attho. TerCeva Vibhange ay am vuttam: sati upafthitd hoti supatthitd ndsikagge vdmukhanimittevd, tena vuccati parimukham satim upatthapetva ti (Vbh. 252) — Mp. Ill, 202).