Favorite Visuddhimagga Chapters

[convivium]

What are your favorite chapters in the Vism?

[jcsuperstar]

i dont have any, what are yours?

[BlackBird]

The introduction.

[Reductor]

I haven't read it yet, but its on my stack. Likely I'll start in a couple of months... then I'll answer your post.

It is surprising that there hasn't been a post in the positive yet. I thought that the visuddhimagga was popular reading here.

[adeh]

The chapter on the Brahma Viharas, the section on recollecting the qualities of the Buddha and the section describing the jhanas.

[bodom]

Chapter on the

Ten Recollections

Recollection of the Buddha
Recollection of the Dhamma
Recollection of the Sangha
Recollection of Generosity
Recollection of Virtue
Recollection of Deva Virtues
Recollection of Death
Recollection of The Body
Recollection of The Breath
Recollection of Peace


A Meditators Tools: A Study Guide on the Ten Recollections
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/stud ... tions.html

[Ben]

Hi thereductor,

I thought that the visuddhimagga was popular reading here.

It is with me. I take it just about everywhere I go. Any opportunity to read a couple of paragraphs, I'll pull it out.
Some sections I have read over and over again and I have to admit there are some sections that I have not yet read, and some that I've read only once. The section at the beginning that covers ascetic practices, for instance, isn't a section I'll review whenever I approach a retreat.
While I find the Vism a treasure trove, its not everyone's cup of tea. It is dense in detail and written in an archaic and formulaic style. However, I believe it is worth persisting with regardless whether one's practice is informed by the commentarial tradition or not. Its an invaluable reference and an essential for any Theravadin library.
Metta

Ben

[Reductor]

Hi thereductor,

I thought that the visuddhimagga was popular reading here.

... Its an invaluable reference and an essential for any Theravadin library.
Metta

Ben

I pick it up often and flip through it... but have (almost) held off reading it thus far. It occurred to me that I should have a firm grasp of the sutta pitaka before starting into the commentary. Still, I did read the chapter on ascetic practices and enjoyed that pretty much.

When its time to read it, I'll read it from cover to cover and see what all the hubbub is about.

FYI, I bought it on your recommendation, so I'll be holdin' you responsible if I don't like it.

See you around.

[Ben]

Hi thereductor,

FYI, I bought it on your recommendation, so I'll be holdin' you responsible if I don't like it.

See you around.

Thanks. Its humbling to know I've made such an impact on you!
And if you don't like it, you're more than welcome to hold me responsibile!
I hope, like me, you get a lot out of it!
metta

Ben

[Reductor]

I hope, like me, you get a lot out of it!
metta

Ben

[mikenz66]

The bits I've gone back to a few times are the Brahmaviharas (where it's interesting to observe that most modern instructions are based on this) and some of the insight sections. It is particularly useful to have around when reading other material that make reference to it, such as Bhikkhu Bodhi's Sutta Translations, or Ven Analyo's book on Satipatthana.

While it's useful to at least skim through it to get the overall shape, I use it more as a reference. I appreciate the way it summarises what must be experiences of a large number of different Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis and some of their anecdotes are quite amusing...

Mike

[Ben]

and some of their anecdotes are quite amusing...

Don't forget the similes Mike, some of them are amazing!
kind regards

Ben

[Alex123]

What are your favorite chapters in the Vism?

Sections on
1) Mindfulness of Death
2) Repulsiveness of Nutriment
3) Contemplation of 4 Elements
4) Some sections in Wisdom part (ex: rise & fall chapters, definition of 12 spheres & 18 elements)