The Path of Purification (Visuddhimagga), by Bhadantācariya Buddhaghosa, translated by Ñānamoli Thera (Colombo: A. Semage, 1956)
This book provides an explanation of the Buddha's Teaching that satisfies the immature thinker, who, thinking that he understands what he does not understand, remains a puthujjana. Unless one first understands that, in spite of the Visuddhimagga, in spite of the Commentaries, in spite of all that is not Sutta, one does not understand the Buddha's Teaching, no progress towards understanding the Buddha's Teaching is possible. Anaññāte aññātamānī sunanto pi saddhammam abhabbo niyāmam okkamitum kusalesu dhammesu sammattam. (Anguttara Nikāya V,152: iii,175) Cf. also ibid. p. 107, §§ 4&5.
Ñānavīra
7 September 1960
