Parayanavagga - The Way to the Beyond
Parayanavagga Parayanavagga or The Way to the Beyond is a controversial part of the Pali Canon, some of the earliest known written Buddhist texts. Research indicates that Parayanavagga might even be the oldest part of the Pali Canon. The suttas is a record of conversations between the Buddha and sixteen Brahmin meditation masters which resulted in their awakening. Parayanavagga is radical in the sense that it stresses the overall importance in non-attachment to all views and ideas, and at the same time it rejects asceticism. This is the fourth way of Theravada Buddhism, one could be led to think, since the texts describes spiritual transformation as a process out folding in the midst of everyday life of the practitioner. What makes Parayanavagga particularly radical and compelling is its emphasis on non-attachment to all views and ideas, including religious or philosophical ones. It consistently underlines the futility of clinging to fixed positions, even so-called "right views", pointing instead toward direct experience and inner realisation. At the same time, it notably rejects strict asceticism, distancing itself from the extremes of self-denial and ritualism that characterised some contemporary spiritual traditions of its time. This positioning suggests a middle path that is deeply integrated into daily life rather than removed from it. Spiritual transformation, in the view of Parayanavagga, does not require retreat into seclusion but can unfold amidst the ordinary responsibilities and rhythms of human existence. In this way, the text arguably offers a fourth way within Theravāda Buddhism — a vision of liberation that transcends conventional categories and is firmly grounded in the present moment. Download the free PDF ebook here:
Parayanavagga - The Way to the Beyond
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