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Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

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ON DISTINGUISHING VIRTUECHAPTER THE SECONDQ. What is virtue? What is its salient characteristic? 1 What is itsfunction? 2 What is its manifestation? 3 What is its near cause? 4 What areits benefits? 5 What is the meaning <strong>of</strong> virtue? What is the difference betweenvirtue and mode <strong>of</strong> life? 6 How many kinds <strong>of</strong> virtue are there? Whatproduces (virtue)? What are the initial, medial and final stages in virtue?How many states 7 are obstacles to progress in virtue? How many are thecauses <strong>of</strong> virtue? How many groups <strong>of</strong> virtue are there? What purifiesvirtue? Owing to how many causes does one dwell in virtue?VIRTUE DEFINEDA. 'What is virtue?' It is virtue <strong>of</strong> volition, 8 virtue <strong>of</strong> abstention 9 andvirtue <strong>of</strong> non-transgression. 10 What is 'virtue <strong>of</strong> volition'? It is this resolve:4 T will do no evil, because, if I do evil, I shall have to surfer for it". Whatis 'virtue <strong>of</strong> abstention'? It is keeping away from occasions <strong>of</strong> evil. Whatis 'virtue <strong>of</strong> non-transgression' ? (Here) a virtuous man has no fault <strong>of</strong> bodyand speech. Again, the meaning <strong>of</strong> cutting is 'abstention'. All good activities 11are virtue. It is said in the Abhidhamma 12 thus: "The destruction <strong>of</strong> sensedesires by renunciation (is virtue). This virtue can remove evil. It is the'virtue <strong>of</strong> volition', the 'virtue <strong>of</strong> restraint' 13 , the 'virtue <strong>of</strong> abstention'. Thedestruction <strong>of</strong> ill will by not-ill will, the destruction <strong>of</strong> rigidity and torporby the perception <strong>of</strong> brightness, the destruction <strong>of</strong> agitation and anxiety bynon-distraction, the destruction <strong>of</strong> uncertainty by the determination <strong>of</strong> states,the destruction <strong>of</strong> ignorance by knowledge, the destruction <strong>of</strong> discontent bygladness, the destruction <strong>of</strong> the five hindrances by the first meditation, thedestruction <strong>of</strong> initial and sustained application <strong>of</strong> thought by the secondmeditation, the destruction <strong>of</strong> happiness by the third meditation, the destruction<strong>of</strong> bliss by the fourth meditation, the destruction (<strong>of</strong> perceptions ranging) fromthe perception <strong>of</strong> form to (the perception <strong>of</strong>) sense-reaction and the perception<strong>of</strong> diversity by the concentration <strong>of</strong> the sphere <strong>of</strong> the infinity <strong>of</strong> space, 14 thedestruction <strong>of</strong> the perception <strong>of</strong> the sphere <strong>of</strong> the infinity <strong>of</strong> space by theI. Lakkhana. 2. Rasa. 3. Puecuppatfhdna. 4. Padatthana. 5. Anisamsa6. Vata. 7. Dhamma. 8. Cetana si/a. 9. Veramani sila. 10. Avitikkama sila^II. Sabbe kusala dhamma. 12. Cp. parallel passage in the Vis. Mag. 49-50, beginningwith " Vuttam Ketam Patisambhidayam". The beginning <strong>of</strong> the quotation from "Abhidhamma"in the Vim. Mag. is confused, possibly due to copyist's error. The repetition<strong>of</strong> 'destruction' or 'severance' (or is it 'rejection' ?) is perhaps due to the needs <strong>of</strong> Chinesecomposition. 13. Samvara sila.14, The ideograph for 'pafigha* is 'hatred'.6

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