Visuddhimagga

Visuddhimagga, meaning The Path of Purification, is a foundational Theravada Buddhist manual on ethics, meditation, and spiritual development. Composed in the 5th century CE by the Sri Lankan monk Buddhaghosa, it presents a comprehensive synthesis of Theravada doctrine by drawing on the Vinaya, Abhidhamma, and earlier commentarial traditions, especially the Vimuttimagga. Written in Pali prose, the work was intended as a practical guide for monks and serious lay practitioners seeking purification of body and mind.

Structurally, the Visuddhimagga organizes the path around three pillars: sila (ethical conduct), samadhi (concentration), and panna (wisdom). It offers detailed instructions on moral discipline, mental development, and the cultivation of meditative states, including jhana practice and mindfulness. It also expounds analytic meditation and the contemplation of phenomena (dhammas) through an Abhidhamma lens, covering topics such as mental factors, temporal sequences, and the dynamics of mind and matter. The text treats core Theravada doctrines, including the Four Noble Truths and dependent origination, within its path framework.

The Visuddhimagga became a central reference in Theravada practice and scholarship, influencing meditation instruction in Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, and other Theravada communities. Monastic curricula and lay meditation manuals often draw on Buddhaghosa’s expositions. It has been translated into English and other languages, with notable translations by the Buddhist Publication Society and by Bhikkhu Bodhi, making its contents accessible to modern readers. While praised for its systematic clarity, the work is also noted for its technical Abhidhamma terminology and its emphasis on traditional monastic approaches, which some modern practitioners interpret in a more flexible spirit.