A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s5.98.2

v2.c19.s5.98.2

Bhikkhu *Nyāṇatiloka* has translated "the Reflection on Death" from Chapter 8, into German in ZB VII, 1926, author himself explains the title of the work, when he says: “Visuddhi here means the Nirvāṇa which is wholly and thoroughly purified, and freed from dirt of every description, and the path which leads to this purification is called Visuddhi-Magga.” He says that it is his intention to expound this “Path to Complete Purification” in accordance with the teachings of the Mahāvihāra, *i.e.*, the traditions preserved in the “great monastery” of Anurādhapura. For the present, however, it is impossible for us to decide whether he had some definite work before him, which he merely revised,¹ or whether we should give him credit for being the first to offer a systematic presentation of the entire doctrine of Buddha, on the basis of the interpretations and explanations which had been handed down in the Mahāvihāra. Should the latter theory be correct, the clear and systematic arrangement and classification of the subject-matter according to the three points of view, morals (sīla), meditation (samādhi) and wisdom (paññā), would be his own work, whilst generally he was content to collect together with great diligence and industry, all that had accumulated during the course of the centuries, by way of explanation of the doctrine and legendary traditions.