Explanation of the Seventh Stage Part 2 By Arjanyai At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

1. The “Stream-Winner” (Sotapanna), takes refuge in the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha (Ti-Saranฺa-Gamana), and the Moralities, and dispenses with five unhealthy types of the Citta as follows:
a) Four types of the Citta connected-with-opinion (Ditฺtฺhi-Sampayutta-Citta), which lead one to do evil deeds, and which arise from the Root-of-Greed (Lobha-Mula)
b) One type of the Citta with Doubt-and-Uncertainty (Vicikiccha), which arises from the Root-of-Delusion (Moha-Mula).2
In addition :
c) The single Hindrance (Nivaranฺa) of Doubt-and-Uncertainty is overcome.
d) Three of the Fetters (Samyojana) are overcome, these being:
1) Wrong-View (Sakkaya-Ditthi) with regard to the Three-Charac-teristics (Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta).
2) Doubt-and-Uncertainty.
3) Attachment to the practice of Ritualism-and-Magic-Formulae (Silabbata-Paramasa).

When these hindrances and fetters are absent, the five moralities are called higher-moralities (Adhi-Sila), and when these are present there never arises in mind, any intent (Cetana) to kill beings, steal possessions, etc. However, the Stream-Winner must still develop the eight moral precepts because he is not yet able to abandon the tendency to enjoy sense pleasures (Kamacchanda). He will return to birth in this world no more than seven times.

2. The “Once-Returner” (Sakadagami), attains the same as the Stream-Winner, but, in addition, he has weakened the tendencies to enjoy sense pleasures and to indulge in ill-will (Byapada). He will, at most, return to birth in this world, once more.

3. The “Never-Returner” (Anagami ), abandons seven unhealthy types of consciousness, which include the five types as listed for the Stream-Winner and, in addition, the two types rooted-in-Hate (Dosa-Mula), He also abandons:
a) Three of the Hindrances, including:
1. The tendency to enjoy sense pleasures.
2. III Will.
3. Doubt and Uncertainty.

b) Five of the Fetters, including:
1. Wrong View.
2. Doubt and Uncertainty.
3. Attachment to the practice of ritualism and magic formulae.
4. The tendency to enjoy sense pleasures.

5. III Will.
In addition the Never-Returner maintains the eight Moralities spontaneously.

4. The Arahant abandons :
a) The twelve Defilements.
b) The five Hindrances.
c) The ten Fetters.

In addition, the Arahant maintains Morality, Samadlii and Wisdom spontaneously, without having to keep a watch over them.
The Noble Disciple and the Ordinary Person have Faith in the ThreeJewels in different ways
The Noble Disciples of all classes have faith in the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha, internally; whereas Ordinary People (Puthujjana) have faith in them externally. In other words, when they take refuge in the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha, ordinary people only take refuge in them externally.

Ordinary people are divided into two groups, one of which goes towards the Realms of Misfortune; whereas, the other goes towards the Heaven States.

Those who go towards the Realms of Misfortune have a straw doll in place of the Buddha. In place of the Dhamma, they use magic spells and formulae in order to secure protection from harm due to knives and bullets. But if they do not practise moral behaviour, they must not expect help from the Buddha and Dhamma, which are only of help to those who maintain the moral precepts. It is like a king who will only help those who uphold the law of the land ; he is not going to help those who break the law.

Those who take refuge in the Sangha and who turn to Dharmayutta or Maha Nikaya, believing only in their own seat, saying that it alone is good, speak with envy and jealousy, and turn to fighting each other. People who turn to the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha in these ways, go towards the realms of misfortune.

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