The System of Learning and Teaching Kammathāna in Visuddhimagga

Abstract

     Visuddhimagga (The Path of Purification) is a scripture that explains the practice leading to Nibbāna through the principles of Sīla (Virtue), Samādhi (Concentration) and Paññā (Wisdom). When the details present in Visuddhimagga are organized and systemized, they reveal a learning and teaching system in the text. The system’s factors are the learner, who is the monk, the instructor, who is Lord Buddha, a noble follower or a scholar monk, the method of learning and teaching, which is Samatha and Vipassanā meditation, contexts, which are the seven suitable things for mental development, and the result of the practice, which is attainment of Nibbāna. When taking the factors and the relations found in this system into consideration, it shows that the learning and teaching system used to teach meditation practice in Visuddhimagga is one that puts Samatha meditation before Vipassanā meditation. The learner characteristics reflect
the meditation practice of monks on pilgrimage, which is
teacher-centered. To employ the learning and teaching method of meditation in Visuddhimagga in today’s world may face some limitations that do not allow the full implementation suggested in the text. Therefore, the learning and teaching system and its goal of reaching Nibbāna could be impeded at present.