SEVEN STAGES OF PURITY - RATAVINITA SUTTA ( THE RELAY CHARIOTS Part 3)

THE SEVEN STAGES OF PURITY–THE RELAY CHARIOTS - (continuation) -Part 3

“Buddhists just proclaim the Path, but you’re the ones to strive. Contemplatives who tread the Path are freed from Mara’s bonds.” Dhammapada Verse 276

(4). Kankavitarana Visuddhi – Purity of the conquest of doubts –

To obtain the supramundane state, doubt is a great hindrance. To eradicate the origin of anything we must discover its causes. The cycle of re-birth can be destroyed by finding out its causes. 

(5). Maggamagga Nanadassana Visuddhi- Purity of knowledge and insight into right and wrong path. 

Here magga means the correct system of meditation. To attain this state of wisdom one should observe the tilakkana meditation. When the nama and rupa are taken together they are referred to as samkara. The conditioned things (samkara) referred to in the paticca samuppada refer to cause and effect of the karmic actions. Although we hear the words anicca, dukka, antta very often, we do not realise that they have such a deep meaning. We know that all living beings are subject to death but this is insufficient for vipassana bhavana/insight meditation. It is not enough to know only the attributes of sorrow. This is difficult for us to understand because our mind is overwhelmed by delusion.

(6). Patipada Nanadassana Visuddhi - Purity of Knowledge and insight into progress.

The disciple, who is free from the harmful influences of the defilements and has gained the purity and knowledge of the right and wrong paths in the previous stage, develops his/her insight to its culmination in this final stage through the systematic and steadfast progress of deeper understanding. This is termed patipada – gradual progress – which consists of the nine-fold insight wisdom leading to the realisation of transcendental states.

(7). Nanadassana Visuddhi – Purity of knowledge and insight into the Noble Path.The four wisdom of knowing the path of four stages of higher attainment make up this.