Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

10 Vwwttimaggavulgarity, contact with women, not honouring the teacher, non-practice ofrestraint of the senses, non-practice of concentration in the first and last watchesof the night, not reciting the discourses in the first and last watches of thenight—these thirty-four states are 'obstacles'. A man impeded by any oneof these cannot perfect his virtue. If his virtue is not perfected he will surelyretrogress. The thirty-four states which counteract these ('obstacles') are the'cause' of virtue. 1FIRST GROUP OF TWO IN VIRTUE'How many groups of virtue are there' ? Group of two, group of threeand group of four. What is the group of two? Precepts governing usage 2and precepts governing prohibitions. 3 Those decisions of the Buddha whichindicate what ought to be done by body and speech are 'precepts governingusage'. Those decisions of the Buddha which indicate what ought not to bedone by body and speech are 'precepts governing prohibitions'. 'Preceptsgoverning usage' are accomplished through the effort of faith. 'Preceptsgoverning prohibitions' are accomplished through being mindful of faith.SECOND GROUP OF TWO FN VIRTUEAnd again, there is a group of two in virtue: the virtue of discarding 4and the virtue of undertaking. 5 What is called 'discarding'? It is the destructionof non-virtue. What is called 'undertaking'? It is the undertakingto keep many good precepts. Just as light dispels darkness, just so a man whodiscards non-virtues, by the discarding of those non-virtues, will be freed fromill-faring. Through undertaking to keep good precepts he can enter the pathof merit. Through the destruction of non-virtue he fulfils steadfastness. 6THIRD GROUP OF TWO IN VIRTUEAnd again, there is a group of two in virtue. Mundane virtue 7 and supramundanevirtue. 8 What is 'supramundane virtue'? The virtue which isfulfilled together with the fruit of the noble Path — this is 'supramundanevirtue'. The rest is 'mundane virtue'. Through the fulfilment of 'mundanevirtue' pre-eminence is accomplished. Through the fulfilment of 'supramundanevirtue' freedom is accomplished.1. Not in Vis. Mag. 2. Caritta sfla. 3. Varina sila. 4. Pahdna.5. Samdddna. Cp. with reference to both (1 and 2) D. f, 63: Kathah ca mahdrdjabhikkhu sila-sampanno hotVI Idha mahdrdja bhikkhu pdndtipdtam pahdya pdndtipdtdpaiivirato hoti, nihita-dando nihita-sattho lajji daydpanno sabha-pdna-bhuia-hitdnukampiviharati. Adinndddnam pahdya....6. Not in Vis. Mag, 7. Lokiya sila. 8, Lokuttara sila,