THE GREAT CHRONICLE OF BUDDHAS
328
latent defilements are eradicated only by the
arahatta
-
magga
. This was the the Bodhisatta's
purity of morality (
sÊla-visuddhi
).
(2) Purity of Mind (Citta Visuddhi)
The eight attainments of
jhÈna
and the five mundane psychic-powers (
abhiÒÒÈ
), acquired
during his stay with the Sect Leaders ŒÄÈra and Udaka, had turned unclean and dim, as if
stained with impurities (like unused large gold vessels) through neglect of practice and
development throughout his six years of asceticism of
dukkaracariya
. On the day he was to
attain Buddhahood, he partook the Ghana milk-rice offered by Lady SujÈtÈ and spent the
daytime in the
sÈla
forest. While he was so staying there, he purified the eight attainments
and the five
abhiÒÒÈ
by developing them once again (like washing and cleaning the stained
gold vessel). These eight attainments and five
abhiÒÒÈ
constituted the Bodhisatta's purity of
mind, (
citta-visuddhi
).
(3) Purity of Views (DiÔÔhi Visuddhi)
Thereafter, the noble Bodhisatta proceeded to the high ground of the MahÈbodhi tree in
the evening and remained seated on the Invincible Throne. He vanquished Devaputta Mara
before sunset. In the first watch of the night, he developed the knowledge of past
existences. He perceived well the phenomena of
nÈma
and
r|pa
and destroyed the twenty
wrong beliefs in personality (
sakkÈya-diÔÔhi
). This was the Bodhisatta's purity of views
(
diÔÔhi-visuddhi
).
(4) Purity of Overcoming Doubts (KankhÈ-vitaraÓa Visuddhi)
Then in the middle watch of the night, he discerned sentient beings reaching different
destinations according to their deeds, by means of
yathÈ-kamm-|paga-ÒÈÓa
which had
dibbacakkhu-ÒÈÓa
as its basis. On seeing them, he realised distinctly the law of
Kamma
(deeds and their results) and because of this realisation, he became free of doubts. This was
the Bodhisatta's
purity of overcoming doubts (
kankhÈ-vitaraÓa-visuddhi
).
(5) Purity of Knowledge and Insight into The Right and Wrong Paths
(MaggÈmaggaÒÈÓadassana Visuddhi)
11
In the last watch of the night, the Bodhisatta dwelt on the twelve factors of the Doctrine
of Dependent Origination; and beginning with the contemplation of mind and body
(
KalÈpa-sammÈsana
) on the basis of seven contemplations such as contemplation of
impermanence (
anicca-nupassanÈ
), of suffering (
dukkha-nupassanÈ
), of non-self (
anatta-
nupassanÈ
), he realised
udayabbaya-ÒÈÓa
which discerned the rising and falling of all
mental and material phenomena (
nÈma
and
r|pa
). At that time, there arose in the
Bodhisatta defilements of VipassanÈ (
VipassÈnupakkilesa
12
) such as illumination, etc.
11.
MaggÈmaggaÒÈnadassana Visuddhi
: Knowledge as to whether it is the right path leading to
NibbÈna or not is called
MaggÈmaggaÒÈÓadassana Visuddhi
.
12.
VipassÈn’upakkilesa
: defilements of
vipassanÈ.
A yogi practising VipassanÈ meditation, at a certain stage of advancement, contemplates again
and again the rising and falling of all mental and physical phenomena and attains the initial stage
of the knowledge of arising and falling (
udayyabbaya-ÒÈÓa
). "At this stage, he generally beholds
a supernormal light (
obhÈsa
), feels a thrill of zest (
pÊti
), calmness (
passaddhi
), determination
(
adhimokkha
), great energy (
paggaha
), happiness (
sukha
), deep insight (
ÒÈÓa
), intensity of
mindfulness (
upatthÈna
), equanimity (
upekkhÈ
), and a mild desire for this state (
nikanti
)". (From
Essential Themes of Buddhist Lectures given by Ashin Thittila. Department of Religious
Affairs. Yangon, Myanma, 1992.)
These states arising in a yogi at the stage of
udayabbaya-ÒÈÓa
in ten phases are termed
VipassÈnupakkilesa
, defilements of
kilesa
. ©ÈÓamoli, in The Path of Purification translates it as
imperfections of Insight and enumerates them, ten in number, as follows: (1) Illumination, (2)
knowledge, (3) rapturous happiness, (4) tranquillity, (5) bliss (pleasure), (6) resolution, (7)
exertion, (8) assurance, (9) equanimity and (10) attachment. "The yogi, arriving at this stage, is
liable to these defilements and his mind may be seized by 'spiritual excitement' or 'agitation