Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

APPENDIXCONTEMPLATION IN THE DHAMMA*BYSOMA THERANibbdna the goal of contemplation in the Buddha's teaching is reachedwith the attainment of knowledge {anndrddhand), through gradual training,gradual work, and gradual practice (anupubbasikkhd, anupubbakiriya,anupubbapatipadd). Says the Master, Truly, the penetration of knowledgeoccurs not abruptly' {na dyatakerC eva anndpativedho). Step by step, andnot in the manner of a jumping frog, does a person progress on the NoblePath. Having fulfilled virtue first, then concentration, and after that wisdom,does one attain full sanctitude in the Buddha's doctrine. 1The order and method of development of the Path is shown in the RathavinltaSutta of the Majjhima Nikdya. There are seven purifications taughtthere. They are: purification of virtue, purification of mind, purification ofview, purification of transcending doubt, purification of knowledge and visionof what is and is not the Path, purification of knowledge and vision of practice,purification of knowledge and vision.These seven have to be developed one by one, in the order given in thesutta mentioned above, because of the dependence of concentraction onvirtue, and of wisdom on concentration. The purifications have been setforth with an illustration of seven carriages arranged for Pasenadi, the kingof Kosala, from Savatthi to Saketa. No carriage takes the king beyond theone next to it on the road to Saketa, and the last carries him to his destination.The carriages arranged for the yogi going to Nibbdna are the seven purifications.No purification takes the yogi beyond the one next to it on the roadto Nibbdna, and it is by the last that he reaches his bourne.Virtue is fulfilled by the first purification, concentration, by the second,and wisdom that precedes the Supramundane Path by the next four purifications.The last purification is attained in the Supramundane Path-momentwhen all the factors of the Noble Path occur together. The purificationsBosat, July, 1959.. A. TV, 201: Yam pi Pahdrdda imasmim dhammavinaye anupubbasikkhd anupubbakiriyaanupubbapatipadd na dyataken'eva anndpativedho. (=na dyatakena anndpativedho timandukassa uppatitva gamanam viya dditova silapuranddim akatvd arahattapativedhonama natthiti patipdfiya pana silasamddhipanndyo puretva va sakkd arahattarh pattuntiattho — Mp. p. 762, Ven. Ratmaldne Dharmdrdma Ndyaka Sthavirtfs Sinhalese ed.)353