Visuddhimagga. The path of purification. Volume 1. Buddhaghos

Visuddhimagga is the “great treatise” of the Theravada Buddhism, the encyclopedic guide to the Buddhist doctrine and meditation, written in the fifth century by the famous Buddhist commentator Bhadantacharia Buddhaghosa. When writing this book, the author set the goal of systematizing and combining the various teachings of the Buddha found in the entire Pali canon, into a clear and comprehensive path leading to the ultimate Buddhist goal - the nibban, the state of complete cleansing and the cessation of suffering.

The treatise consists of three large sections. The first is devoted to a very detailed discussion of various aspects of Buddhist morality, the most important component of the octal path. The second part sets out theoretical and practical issues relating to the nature of concentration (samadhi), its varieties, ways of achievement and the benefits brought to them. The author discusses in detail the various types of meditative supports, with the help of which immersion is achieved into thin and cleared of five obstacles of consciousness (jacan), and also reveals the nature of various levels of meditative immersion. The third section is dedicated to discussing the development of understanding, wisdom that can comprehend things as they are in reality, which leads to the final exemption from the samsara's trips.

the treatise is issued in two volumes. The first volume presents the first two sections, in the second - the third. All tables mentioned in the book will be presented in the second volume.