Visuddhimagga - Seven Stages of Purification

Seven Stages of Purification

This comparison between practice and "seven relay chariots" points at the goal. Each purity is needed to attain the next. They are often referred to as the "Seven Stages of Purification" (satta-visuddhi):

1. Purification of Conduct (sīla-visuddhi)
2. Purification of Mind (citta-visuddhi)
3. Purification of View (ditthi-visuddhi)
4. Purification by Overcoming Doubt (kankha-vitarana-visuddhi)
5. Purification by Knowledge and Vision of What Is Path and Not Path (maggamagga-ñanadassana-visuddhi)
6. Purification by Knowledge and Vision of the Course of Practice (patipada-ñanadassana-visuddhi)
   1. Knowledge of contemplation of rise and fall (udayabbayanupassana-nana)
   2. Knowledge of contemplation of dissolution (bhanganupassana-nana)
   3. Knowledge of appearence as terror (bhayatupatthana-nana)
   4. Knowledge of contemplation of danger (adinavanupassana-nana)
   5. Knowledge of contemplation of dispassion (nibbidanupassana-nana)
   6. Knowledge of desire for deliverance (muncitukamyata-nana)
   7. Knowledge of contemplation of reflection (patisankhanupassana-nana)
   8. Knowledge of equanimity about formations (sankharupekka-nana)
   9. Conformity knowledge (anuloma-nana)
7. Purification by Knowledge and Vision (ñanadassana-visuddhi)
   1. Change of lineage
   2. The first path and fruit
   3. The second path and fruit
   4. The third path and fruit
   5. The fourth path and fruit

The "Purification by Knowledge and Vision" is the culmination of the practice, in four stages leading to liberation and Nirvana.

The emphasis in this system is on understanding the three marks of existence, dukkha, anatta, anicca. This emphasis is recognizable in the value that is given to vipassana over samatha, especially in the contemporary vipassana movement.