The Seven Stages of Purification

1. Purification of Virtue

(a) The virtue described by the Blessed One thus: “Here a bhikkhu dwells
restrained with the Pátimokkha restraint, possessed of the [proper] conduct and
resort, and seeing fear in the slightest fault, he trains himself by undertaking the
precepts of training,” is virtue of Pátimokkha restraint.

(b) That described thus: “On seeing a visible object with the eye, he
apprehends neither the signs nor the particulars through which, if he left the eye
faculty unguarded, evil and unprofitable states of covetousness and grief might
invade him; he enters upon the way of its restraint, he guards the eye faculty,
undertakes the restraint of the eye faculty. On hearing a sound with the ear … On
smelling an odour with the nose … On tasting a flavour with the tongue … On touching a tangible object with the body … On cognizing a mental object with the
mind, he apprehends neither the signs nor the particulars through which, if he left
the mind faculty unguarded, evil and unprofitable states of covetousness and grief
might invade him; he enters upon the way of its restraint, he guards the mind
faculty, undertakes the restraint of the mind faculty, is virtue of restraint of
the sense faculties.

(c) Abstinence from such wrong livelihood as entails transgression of the six training
precepts announced with respect to livelihood and entails the evil states beginning
with “Scheming, talking, hinting, belittling, pursuing gain with gain” is virtue
of livelihood purification.

(d) Use of the four requisites that is purified by the reflection stated in the way
beginning, “Reflecting wisely, he uses the robe only for protection from cold” is called virtue concerning requisites.


2. Purification of Consciousness

The eight attainments together with access concentration.


3. Purification of View

the correct seeing of mentality-materiality.


4. Purification by Overcoming Doubt

Knowledge established by overcoming doubt about the three divisions
of time by means of discerning the conditions of that same mentality-materiality
is called “purification by overcoming doubt.”


5. Purification by Knowledge and Vision of What is Path and Not-Path

The knowledge established by getting to know the path and the notpath
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.”


6. Purification by Knowledge and Vision of the Way

Now, insight reaches its culmination with the eight knowledges, and
knowledge in conformity with truth1 is ninth; these are what is called purification by knowledge and vision of the way.

The eight should be understood as follows:

(1) knowledge of contemplation of rise and fall, which is insight free from imperfections and steady on its course,
(2) knowledge of contemplation of dissolution,
(3) knowledge of appearance as terror,
(4) knowledge of contemplation of danger,
(5) knowledge of contemplation of dispassion,
(6) knowledge of desire for deliverance,
(7) knowledge of contemplation of reflection,
(8) knowledge of equanimity about formations.

7. Purification by Knowledge and Vision

Purification by knowledge and vision properly consists in knowledge of the
four paths, that is to say, the path of stream-entry, the path of once-return, the path
of non-return, and the path of Arahantship.