Cittavisuddhi

cittavisuddhi is translated as "purification of mind," "purification of consciousness," etc. In the Pali tradition, cittavisuddhi is identified as the second of the seven stages of purification on the path to liberation, as presented in the Visuddhimagga.

Buddhism: One Teacher, Many Traditions states:

Purification of mind (citta visuddhi) is the higher training of concentration, accomplished by subduing the five hindrances by means of access and full-absorption concentration.

Practitioners may cultivate insight in two ways. Following the vehicle of serenity, some attain access concentration or a higher state of absorption and use it as the basis for generating insight. Here the meditator emerges from the absorption, analyzes the factors of that absorption in terms of the five aggregates, understands their conditions, examines their nature, and sees they are marked by the three characteristics. The purification of mind for this person is whatever degree of concentration he or she develops from access on up.

Others, following the vehicle of pure insight, cultivate momentary concentration on the ever-changing physical and mental events. This is comparable to access concentration and is the purification of mind for these practitioners.

Sources

• Buswell, Robert E.; Lopez, Donald S. (2014), The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism, Princeton University 
• Dalai Lama; Thubten Chodron (2014), Buddhism: One Teacher, Many Traditions, Wisdom Publications