He has long been celebrated in the Sri Lankan Theravda-Mahvihra tradition as the paradigmatic saint-scholar. Encyclopedia of Religion. They are often referred to as the "Seven Stages of Purification" (satta-visuddhi):[12]. Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link. Buddhaghosa was a Buddhist scholar-monk of the 5th century ce who belonged to a branch of the Theravda school in Sri Lanka known as the Mahvihra. The Visuddhimagga is organized into three sections, corresponding to the three trainings. The commentaries note that they are based on the older Sinhala commentaries and follow the tradition of interpretation endorsed at the Mahvihra. "[4] The interpretations provided by Buddhaghosa have generally constituted the orthodox understanding of Theravada scriptures since at least the 12th century CE.[5][6]. This book contains the full Dhammapada including a complete translation of the fourth or fifth century commentary . He accomplished this by coordinating, collating, translating, and editing the vast, imposing body of the Theravda canon. [2] Having synthesized or translated the whole of the Sinhala commentary preserved at the Anuradhapura Maha Viharaya, Buddhaghosa reportedly returned to India, making a pilgrimage to Bodh Gaya to pay his respects to the Bodhi Tree. According to tradition, these are verses spoken by the Buddha on various occasions, most of which deal with ethics. The link was not copied. Abstract Von Hinber claims in his recent article, "Early Scripture Commentary,"which is included in Brill's Encyclopedia of Buddhism, that: (1) Buddhaghosa is the author of the commentaries on four nikyas, but (2) not of other com- mentaries traditionally attributed to him. [3] Chachakka Sutta No Self in Initial Sensory Experience, Sakkya Ditthi in Terms of Att or Self or tma, An Apparent Self Is Involved in Kamma Generation, Paticca Samuppda Not Self or No-Self, Paicca Samuppda A Self Exists Due to Avijj. A Narratological Reading of the Agulimla-sutta (Majjhima-nikya 86) 1, 2500 Years of Buddhism (by Prof. P. Y. Bapat), Theravda in Sri Lanka: A Brief Historical Perspective, Sthavira, Thera and Sthaviravadin in Chinese Buddhist Sources, Introduction: The Senior Manuscripts. [3], His best-known work is the Visuddhimagga ("Path of Purification"), a comprehensive summary of older Sinhala commentaries on Theravada teachings and practices. [53] Below is a listing of the fourteen commentaries (Ahakath) on the Pli Canon traditionally ascribed to Buddhaghosa[54], While traditional accounts list Buddhaghosa as the author of all of these works, some scholars hold that only the Visuddhimagga and the commentaries on the first four Nikayas as Buddhaghosa's work. Vinaya The Nature Likes to be in Equilibrium, Word-for-Word Translation of the Tipiaka, Elephant in the Room Direct Translation of the Tipiaka, Niddesa (Brief Description) of Paicca Samuppda, Elephant in the Room 2 Jhna and Kasia, Jhna, Jhya, and Jhyi Different Meanings, npnasati Not About Breath Icchnagala Sutta, Elephant in the Room 4 Gandhabba/Manomaya Kya, Buddha Dhamma Noble Truths, Paicca Samuppda, Tilakkhaa, Noble Truths, Paicca Samuppda, Tilakkhana Key Relationships, Anicca Nature, the First Noble Truth, and Paicca Samuppda, What is San? [16], Buddhaghosa went on to write commentaries on most of the other major books of the Pali Canon, with his works becoming the definitive Theravadin interpretation of the scriptures. You could not be signed in, please check and try again. Updates? They are pure ones free from delusion and passion and therefore they were clever enough to keep in mind perfectly the original word of the Buddha. In the previous post in this series, Buddhaghosa and Visuddhimagga Historical Background, we discussed why Buddhaghosa traveled to Sri Lanka. [16], The details of the Mahavamsa account cannot readily be verified; while it is generally regarded by Western scholars as having been embellished with legendary events (such as the hiding of Buddhaghosa's text by the gods), in the absence of contradictory evidence it is assumed to be generally accurate. "[62][63] Yet, according to Buddhadasa, Buddhaghosa was influenced by Hindu thought, and the uncritical respect for the Visuddhimagga has even hindered the practice of authentic Buddhism.[64][65]. Outlining how the practitioner might overcome mental afflictions and attain nibbna (nirva in Sanskrit), the Visuddhimagga offers a systematic explanation of Buddhist thought and practice in terms of the triad of conduct, meditative concentration, and wisdom. [13] Abilities such as flying through the air, walking through solid obstructions, diving into the ground, walking on water and so forth are performed by changing one element, such as earth, into another element, such as air. [20], Finally, Buddhaghosa's works likely played a significant role in the revival and preservation of the Pali language as the scriptural language of the Theravada, and as a lingua franca in the exchange of ideas, texts, and scholars between Sri Lanka and the Theravada countries of mainland Southeast Asia. Among these are famous works such as the Dpavasa (Chronicle of the Island [ri Lanka]), the Mahvasa (Great Chronicle [also of ri Lanka]), the Milindapaha (Milindas Questions), the Visuddhimagga (Path of Purification), the Abhidhammattha Sangaha (A Comprehen-sive Manual of Abhidhamma), etc. This is the second volume of proceedings of the gama seminars convened by the gama Research Group at the Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts (formerly Dharma Drum Buddhist College). Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. [22], Buddhaghosa was reputedly responsible for an extensive project of synthesizing and translating a large body of ancient Sinhala commentaries on the Pli Canon. BUDDHAGHOSA (fl. 37, vv. The Internet Archive is a nonprofit fighting for universal access to quality information, powered by online donations averaging about $17. BUDDHAGHOSA (fl. Still, Bhikkhu Nyanamoli incorrectly translated it as impermanence following the European pioneers misinterpretation before him, as we discussed above. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Buddhaghosa. It is clear that whenever The Buddha preached dhamma for his ordained disciples and lay disciples and prescribed monastic rules for monks and nuns for forty -five years, those of his clever and learned monks immediately kept word for word in their memory. by Peter Skilling and others, pp. 163. View this article's JSTOR metadata. Conditions for the Four Stages of Nibbna, Paticca Samuppada Pati+ichcha+Sama+uppda, Nibbna Rgakkhaya Dosakkhaya Mohakkhaya Part 1, Paca Nvaraa and Sensual Pleasures (Kma Rga), Icch, Tah, Kma Root Causes of Suffering, Bhava Kammic Energy That Can Power an Existence, Bhava and Punabbhava Kammic Energy Giving Rise to Renewed Existence, Six Root Causes Loka Samudaya (Arising of Suffering) and Loka Nirodhaya (Nibbana), Kamma and Paicca Samuppda Introduction, Dhamma and Dhamm Different but Related, Gati (Habits/Character) Determine Births Sasappanya Sutta, Paicca Samuppda, Tilakkhana, Four Noble Truths, Future Suffering (Loka/Dukkha Samudaya) Starts With Sensory Input (rammaa), Sotapanna One With the Wider Worldview of the Buddha, Sotapann Just Starting on the Noble Path, Dhamma Different Meanings Depending on the Context, Dhammnudhamma Paipatti Connection to Paicca Samuppda/Tilakkhana, Sakkya Dihi Wrong View of Me and Mine, What Reincarnates? 2d ed. [50] It was re-introduced in Myanmar (Burma) in the 18th century by Medawi (17281816), leading to the rise of the Vipassana movement in the 20th century, re-inventing vipassana-meditation and developing simplified meditation techniques, based on the Satipatthana sutta, the Visuddhimagga, and other previous texts, emphasizing satipatthana and bare insight. [14] Dipa Ma, who trained via the Visuddhimagga, was said to demonstrate these abilities. In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. This is probably the only section that can be said to be finished, even though I may edit the posts in this section as needed. [18] Gunaratana further notes that Buddhaghosa invented several key meditation terms which are not to be found in the suttas, such as "parikamma samadhi (preparatory concentration), upacara samadhi (access concentration), appanasamadhi (absorption concentration). Buddhaghosa continued his labor to assure a wider dissemination of the received commentarial interpretations of Sri Lanka by translating into Pali the Sinhala exegetical literature on many of the canonical texts. It is considered the most important Theravada text of outside of the Tipitaka canon of scriptures,[1] and is described as "the hub of a complete and coherent method of exegesis of the Tipitaka. Buddhaghosa was a 5th-century Indian Theravada Buddhist commentator, translator and philosopher. The philosopher Jonardon Ganeri has called attention to Buddhaghosa's theory of the nature of consciousness and attention. In Mysticism and Language, edited by Steven T. Katz, pp. I agree with (1) but not with (2). 1995 p. xliii: "The, Vimuttimagga & Visuddhimagga - A Comparative Study. Bhaddantacariya Buddhaghosa. Buddhaghosa - Wikipedia Kalupahana, David J. [20] It adds to the Mahavamsa tale certain details, such as the identity of Buddhaghosa's parents and his village, as well as several dramatic episodes, such as the conversion of Buddhaghosa's father and Buddhaghosa's role in deciding a legal case. "[33], Some scholars have argued that Buddhaghosa's writing evinces a strong but unacknowledged Yogcra Buddhist influence, which subsequently came to characterize Theravada thought in the wake of his profound influence on the Theravada tradition. In this paper, I have reexamined the modern view of the commentary titles attributable to Buddhaghosa. A condensation of his The Life and Work of Buddha-ghosa (1923; reprint, Delhi, 1976). Evameta yathbhta sammappaya disv pathavdhtuy nibbindati, pathavdhtuy citta virjeti.. These are: In this text, the three trainings are presented within the framework of the seven stages of purification. [5] The result was the spread of the teachings of the Mahavihara tradition and thus Buddhaghosa throughout the Theravada world. You do not currently have access to this article, Access to the full content requires a subscription, Copy this link, or click below to email it to a friend. RASHI (Solomon ben Isaac ; 10401105), leading commentator on the Bible and Talmud. . Aniccata veditabba. [10][11] A few other sources discuss the life of Buddhaghosa, but do not appear to add any reliable material. [14] Impressed, Buddhaghosa became a bhikkhu (Buddhist monk) and undertook the study of the Tipiaka and its commentaries. And it sets out detailed practical instructions for developing purification of mind."[2]. Atthakatha - Encyclopedia of Buddhism from those European pioneers at universities in the United Kingdom. fifth century ce), one of the greatest Buddhist commentators. The style, syntax, and wordings of specific stanzas of both series will be taken into consideration so as to evaluate their antiquity and their literary quality. Kasma? The third basket is called the Abhidhamma Pitaka and comprises the Buddha's higher teaching or special teaching on his psycho-ethical philosophy. Tattha sabbesampi gabbhaseyyakanam matukucchito nikkhamanakale pathamam abbhantaravato bahi nikkhamati. A Quest to Recover Buddha's True Teachings, Home Historical Background Buddhaghosas Visuddhimagga A Focused Analysis, April 29, 2017; revised March 16, 2021; major revision September 3, 2021. In the next post, Misinterpretation of Anicca and Anatta by Early European Scholars, we will wrap up this section on Historical Background.. [11], See, for instance, Kheminda Thera, in Ehara et al. Although the point remains open to debate, it appears that Buddhaghosa also wrote commentaries on the seven texts comprising the third major division of the Pali canon, the Abhidhamma Piaka: on the Dhammasagan he provided a commentary called Atthaslin ; on the Vibhaga, the Sammohavinodan ; and on the remaining five texts, one work called Pacappakaraa-hakath. There seems to be no doubt that the Visuddhimagga and the commentaries are a testimony to the abilities of a great harmonizer who blended old and new ideas without arousing suspicion in the minds of those who were scrutinizing his work. Publication date Devotion to Metteya was common in South Asia from early in the Buddhist era, and is believed to have been particularly popular during Buddhaghosa's era. This emphasis is recognizable in the value that is given to vipassana over samatha in the contemporary vipassana movement. Buddhaghosa was careful in introducing any new ideas into the Mahavihara tradition in a way that was too obvious. Just after the beginning of the cultural and linguistic hegemony of the Sanskrit Cosmopolis across South and Southeast Asia, Buddhaghosa wrote in Pli, another Middle-Indo Aryan language.