Visuddhimagga - Purification by Overcoming Doubt - Full-understanding of the known

THE PATH
OF PURIFICATION
(VISUDDHIMAGGA)
BY
BHADANTACARIYA BUDDHAGHOSA
Translated from the Pali
by
BHIKKHU NANAMOLI
FIFTH EDITION
BUDDHIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY
Kandy Sri Lanka


[FULL-UNDERSTANDING OF THE KNOWN]
21. When he has discerned the conditions of mentality-materiality in
this way by means of the round of kamma and the round of kamma-
result, and has abandoned uncertainty about the three periods of time,
then all past, future and present states are understood by him in accor-
dance with death and rebirth-linking. This is his full-understanding of
the known (see Ch. XX, §3).
22. He understands thus: 'Aggregates produced in the past with kamma
as condition ceased there too. But other aggregates are produced in this
becoming with past kamma as their condition, although there is no single
thing that has come over from the past becoming to this becoming. And
aggregates produced in this becoming with kamma as their condition
will cease. And in the future becoming other aggregates will be pro-
duced, although no single thing will go over from this becoming to the
future becoming.
'Furthermore, just as, while the recitation from the teacher's mouth
does not enter into the pupil's mouth, yet recitation does not because of
that fail to take place in the pupil's mouth,—and while the potion drunk
by the proxy does not enter the sick man's stomach, yet the sickness
does not because of that fail to be cured,—and while the arrangement of
the ornaments on the face does not pass over to the reflexion of the face


in the looking glass, yet the arrangement of the ornaments does not
because of that fail to appear,—and while the flame of a lamp does not
move over from one wick to another, yet the flame does not because of
that fail to be produced,—so too, while nothing whatever moves over
from the past becoming to this becoming, or from this to the future
becoming, [604] yet aggregates, bases and elements do not fail to be
produced here with aggregates, bases and elements in the past becoming
as their condition, or in the future becoming with aggregates, bases and
elements here as their condition'.
23. Just as eye-consciousness comes next
Following on mind element,
Which, though it does not come from that,
Yet fails not next to be produced,
So too, in rebirth-linking, conscious
Continuity takes place:
The prior consciousness breaks up,
The subsequent is born from that.
They have no interval between,
Nor gap [that separates the two];
While naught whatever passes over,
Still rebirth-linking comes about.
24. When all states are understood by him thus in accordance with death
and rebirth-linking, his knowledge of discerning the conditions of men-
tality-materiality is sound in all its aspects and the sixteen kinds of doubt
are more effectively abandoned. And not only that, but the eight kinds of
doubt that occur in the way beginning thus, 'He is doubtful about the
Master' (A.iii,248; Dhs. §1004) are abandoned too, and.the sixty-two
kinds of views are suppressed (See D. Sutta 1 and M. Sutta 102).
25. The knowledge that has been established by the overcoming of doubt
about the three periods of time by discerning the conditions of mentality-
materiality according to the various methods should be understood as
'purification by overcoming doubt'. Other terms for it are 'knowledge of
the relations of states' and 'correct knowledge' and 'right vision'.
26. For this is said: 'Understanding of discernment of conditions thus,
"Ignorance is a condition, formations are conditionally arisen, and both
these states are conditionally arisen", is knowledge of the causal rela-
tionship of states' (Ps.i,50). And:
'When he brings to mind as impermanent, what states does he cor-
rectly know and see? How is there right seeing? How, by inference from
that, are all formations clearly seen as impermanent? Wherein is doubt
abandoned? When he brings to mind as painful ... When he brings to


mind as not-self, what states does he correctly know and see? ... Wherein
is doubt abandoned?
'When he brings to mind as impermanent, he correctly knows and
sees the sign. Hence "right seeing" is said. Thus, by inference from that,
all formations are clearly seen as impermanent. Herein doubt is aban-
doned. When he brings to mind as painful, he correctly knows and sees
occurrence. Hence ... When he brings to mind as not-self, he correctly
knows and sees the sign and occurrence. Hence "right seeing" is said.
Thus by inference from that, all states are clearly seen as not-self. Herein
doubt is abandoned.
'Correct knowledge and right seeing and overcoming of doubt [605]—
are these things different in meaning and different in the letter or are
they one in meaning and only the letter is different? Correct knowledge
and right seeing and overcoming of doubt—these things are one in mean-
ing and only the letter is different' (Ps.ii,62f.).
27. When a man practising insight has become possessed of this knowl-
edge, he has found comfort in the Buddhas' Dispensation, he has found
a foothold, he is certain of his destiny, he is called a 'lesser stream-
enterer'.
So would a bhikkhu overcome
His doubts, then ever mindfully
Let him discern conditions both
Of mind and matter thoroughly.
The nineteenth chapter called 'The Descrip-
tion of Purification by Overcoming Doubt' in the
Treatise on the Development of Understanding in
the Path of Purification composed for the purpose
of gladdening good people.