Part of the problem is even when devout Buddhists want to explore
Visuddhimagga and see what it has to offer, it's difficult to overcome some
major barriers. The work is very lengthy, it goes into great detail on
aspects that don't seem to have immediate bearing on suffering and the path
to its cessation, and the English translation is written in a way that feels
like one is reading a foreign language.
What would be awesome is if proponents of Visuddhimagga could make an
online, hypertext version written in a more modern accessible English, good
hypertext links so one could easily look up unfamiliar words, link to
commentary, subcommentary, easily distinguish what is original pali sutta,
and a primer explaining which parts of the Visuddhimagga are of particular
importance and value.
-fk
-----Original Message-----
[snip]..., but I wonder at the causticity
of some of the criticisms offered up in this newsgroup towards reverend
elders who, though long passed-away, had such great compassion for later
generations that they took the time to painstakingly compose such lucid
manuals for the practice of the Buddha's teaching (that do actually work if
you put your heart into it!). Buddhaghosa's work has helped a great amount
in spreading the Buddha's teaching to the world. It's a shame people can't
see that.
Anyway, I suppose that's enough rant for one day :) may all be happy,