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CHAPTER XX
PURIFICATION BY KNOWLEDGE
AND
VISION OF WHAT IS THE PATH
AND
WHAT IS NOT THE PATH
(Maggāmagga-ñāṇadassana-visuddhi-niddesa)
1. [606] The knowledge established by getting to know the path and the not-
path thus, “This is the path, this is not the path,” is called “purification by
knowledge and vision of what is the path and what is not the path.”
2. One who desires to accomplish this should first of all apply himself to the
inductive insight called “comprehension by groups.1” Why? Because knowledge
of what is the path and what is not the path appears in connection with the
appearance of illumination, etc. (XX.105f.) in one who has begun insight. For it
is after illumination, etc., have appeared in one who has already begun insight
that there comes to be knowledge of what is the path and what is not the path.
And comprehension by groups is the beginning of insight. That is why it is set
forth next to the overcoming of doubt. Besides, knowledge of what is the path
and what is not the path arises when “full-understanding as investigation” is
occurring, and full-understanding as investigation comes next to full-
understanding as the known (see XIX.21). So this is also a reason why one who
desires to accomplish this purification by knowledge and vision of what is the
path and what is not the path should first of all apply himself to comprehension
by groups.
[THE THREE KINDS OF FULL-UNDERSTANDING]
3. Here is the exposition: there are three kinds of mundane full-understanding,
that is, full-understanding as the known, full-understanding as investigation,
and full-understanding as abandoning, with reference to which it was said:
“Understanding that is direct-knowledge is knowledge in the sense of being
known. Understanding that is full-understanding is knowledge in the sense of
1. “Comprehension by placing together in groups (totals) the states that are differentiated
into past, future and present is ‘comprehension by groups.’ This, it seems, is the term used
by the inhabitants of Jambudīpa (India). However, insight into states by means of the
method beginning, ‘Any materiality whatever’ (M III 16) is ‘inductive insight.’ This, it seems,
is the term used by the inhabitants of Tambapaṇṇidīpa (Sri Lanka). That is why he said “to
inductive insight called comprehension by groups’” (Vism-mhṭ 778).