To attain enlightenment we must go through seven stages of purification (visuddhi).
1. PURIFICATION OF MORAL CONDUCT
The first is Sila-visuddhi, Purification of Moral conduct. Meditators have to observe at least five precepts, if not eight, so that they can attain purification of sila.
Here we should notice the different betweet the third precept in five and that and eight. The third of the five precepts is abstention from sexual misconduct, whereas the third of the eight precepts is abstention from all kinds of sexual contact. If a meditator does not abstain from sexual contact, his mind will be defiled by the hindrance of sense desire (kãmacchanda-nîvarana). Only when the mind is purified from all hindrances can meditators realise mental and physical processes in their true nature.
Ofcourse it is better if meditators can observe the eight precepts. If they do not, they may have desires for taste, food, visible things, audible things, odours and tangible things - five kinds of sense desire (kãmmaccahanda) in their mind. By observing Eight Precepts, one can purify one's deeds and speech. This is the Purification Of Moral Contact (sila visuddhi). When moral conduct is purified, the mind is to some extent also purified.
When the mind becomes purified, it becomes calm, serene, tranquil and happy and can concentrate on the object of meditation. Then the meditator attains Purification of Mind, i.e. Citta-visuddhi, the second stage of purification.
The Omniscient Buddha lays stress on the purification of Sila or moral conduct because it is a basic requirement for progress in concentration as well as insight. When moral conduct is purified, the mind becomes clear, calm, serene and happy. If a meditator cultivates mindfulness based on purification of moral conduct he can easily concentrate on any object of the mental and physical processes. So Purity Of Moral Conduct is a prerequirement for a meditator to make progress.
2. PURIFICATION OF MIND
The second purification is Purification of Mind (citta-visuddhi). If we want to attain insight knowledges, the mind must be purified from all kinds of hindrances. When the mind is well concentrated on any mental or physical phenomena, it is free from all there hindrances. This is known as Purification of Mind (Citta-Visuddhi).
3. PURIFICATION OF VIEW
The third is Purification of View (Ditthi-visuddhi). When a meditator mind is purified from hindrances, she penetrates into the true nature of mental and physical processes. First of all, she distinguishes between mental process and physical process (nama and rupa) through her own experience. That is known as Nãmarupa-pariccheda-ñaña - knowledge of the difference between mentality and physicality. When the concentration becomes deeper, she realizes the specific characteristics of the mental and physical phenomena which are being observed. Then she does not take any of body-mind process to be a person or a being, a soul, or a self. She has now purified her view, she has attained Purification of View (ditthi-visuddhi).
(see next post)
