Buddhaghosa c. 400 – c. 470
Buddhaghosa (c. 400 – c. 470) was an Indian philosopher of the Medieval era, associated with Buddhism and Indian Philosophy.
Buddhaghosa was a fifth-century Indian Theravada Buddhist philosopher who, having begun his life as a brahmin scholar of Vedic literature and converted to Buddhism, traveled to the Mahavihara monastery in Anuradhapura on Sri Lanka in order to translate, organize, and comment on the entire Pali canon. His Visuddhimagga, or Path of Purification, became the standard systematic exposition of Theravada Buddhist philosophy and meditation, while his commentaries on the Pali suttas and abhidhamma fixed the orthodox interpretation of the Theravada tradition for the next fifteen centuries. The Theravada Buddhism of contemporary Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia bears the deep imprint of his work.
Key facts
- Nationality
- Indian
- Era
- Medieval
- Movements
- Buddhism, Indian Philosophy
Selected quotes
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Attributed to Buddhaghosa:
“Purification of the mind is the path; there is no other path.”
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Attributed to Buddhaghosa:
“Conduct is the foundation; concentration is the structure; wisdom is the roof.”
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Attributed to Buddhaghosa:
“Right view is not a doctrine to be argued, but a pair of eyes to be opened.”
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Attributed to Buddhaghosa:
“All conditioned things are impermanent; with this insight rightly held, the path opens of itself.”
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Attributed to Buddhaghosa:
“The teacher's words are a raft; do not mistake the raft for the further shore.”
Frequently asked about Buddhaghosa
- When did Buddhaghosa live?
- Buddhaghosa was born in c. 400 and died in c. 470.
- Where was Buddhaghosa from?
- Buddhaghosa was an Indian philosopher of the Medieval era.
- What philosophical movements is Buddhaghosa associated with?
- Buddhaghosa was associated with Buddhism and Indian Philosophy.
- What was Buddhaghosa known for?
- Buddhaghosa was a fifth-century Indian Theravada Buddhist philosopher who, having begun his life as a brahmin scholar of Vedic literature and converted to Buddhism, traveled to the Mahavihara monastery in Anuradhapura on Sri Lanka in order to translate, organize, and comment on the entire Pali canon.
- How many quotes are attributed to Buddhaghosa?
- There are 9 attributed quotations from Buddhaghosa in the 1001Philosophers collection, organized by topic.