The Life and Work of Buddhaghosa is the biography of Buddhaghosa a 5th-century Indian Theravadin Buddhist commentator and scholar. Buddhaghosa's best-known work is the Visuddhimagga, or Path of Purification, a comprehensive summary and analysis of the Theravada understanding of the Buddha's path to liberation. The interpretations provided by Buddhaghosa have constituted the orthodox understanding of Theravada scriptures since at least the 12th century CE. Buddhaghosa is recognized by both Western scholars and Theravadins as the most important commentator of the Theravada way.

was a 5th-century Indian Theravada Buddhist commentator, translator and philosopher.He worked in the Great Monastery at Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka and saw himself as being part of the Vibhajjavada school and in the lineage of the Sinhalese Mahavihara.

His best-known work is the Visuddhimagga ("Path of Purification"), a comprehensive summary of older Sinhalese commentaries on Theravada teachings and practices. According to Sarah Shaw, in Theravada this systematic work is "the principal text on the subject of meditation."The interpretations provided by Buddhaghosa have generally constituted the orthodox understanding of Theravada scriptures since at least the 12th century CE.

He is generally recognized by both Western scholars and Theravadins as the most important philosopher and commentator of the Theravada but is also criticized for his departures from the canonical texts[citation needed].