--- In Pali@yahoogroups.com, Gunnar Gällmo <gunnargallmo@...> wrote:

> --- rjkjp1 <rjkjp1@...> skrev:
>
> > Why do you recommend the
> > Vimuttimagga, a non-
> > Theravada text?
> > RobertK
> --------------
> Dimitry may answer that, but I think the question is
> wrongly put. When I once read the BPS edition of an
> English translation of the Vimuttivagga, I understood
> it to be a Theravada text (BPS claims never to publish
> anything not compatible with Theravada doctrine),
> although the Pali original is lost.

_____________
Dear Gunnar,
Thanks for pointing this out, I hadn't realized that BPS is now the
holder of Theravada orthodoxy.
I think it is worth noting that Theravada tradition prior to the BPS
(which began in the 1950's) rejected the Vimuttimagga.

From Skilling 171-210, Journal Pali Text Society volXX

"The position of the Vimuttimagga is closer to that of the
Vaibhasikas who
include all 4 elements in sprastavyayayatana.

A comparison of the Dhammasangani list with that of the Vimuttimagga
shows
..the important difference that the later adds 3 items : rupassa jati
vathu rupa and middha.
Although the visuddhmagga attributes the heresy of middh-rupa
to .."some"
(ekaccanam matena) the tika tells us that this refers to the
Abhayagirivasins.

Thus the inclusion of both middh-rupa in both the Chinese
version and the tibetan extracts of the Vimuttimagga is evidence
that
the Vimutinmagga contains classifications that were rejected by the
Mahavihara but accepted by the Abhayagiri
Skilling concudes that the Vimuttimagga probably came from the
Abhayagiri
sect. He notes p200 "these are not minor points."
___
On the Abhayagiri sect:
The mahavamsa notes (p267 -268)p264 that a King helped to purify the
sasana by
suppression of a heresy. He seized bhikkhus dwelling in the
Abhayagiri.."who
had turned to the Vetulya doctrine and were like a thorn in the
doctrine
of the Buddha and he excommunciated them."
It then notes that the thera
sanghamitta (from south India was embittered against the good
bhikkus of
the Mahavihara and bidded his time until the good king died and the
next
one jetthatissa died. Then his time was ripe when the younger
brother of
Jetthatissa (mahasena ) came to power
That the Thera sanghamitta , who dwelt at the Abhayagiri told the
king
that the Mahavihara teach a wrong doctrine and so the King made a
proclamation telling the popolulation that they could not feed any
monk from
the Mahavihara. The good monks thus abandoned it. Sanghamitta then
had the
King destroy the mahavihara and "carried away the materials of the
buildings
hence to the Abhagiri and by means of the many buidings that were
borne
away from the mahavihara the Abhayagiri became rich in buildings,
Holding
fast to his evil friend the thera sanghmitta and to his servant Sona
the
King wrought many a deed of wrong>...then by the ruthless Thera
sanghamitta the Abhayagiri-vihara was made stately to see"
Robertk