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There are
many times, those who are still fresh to the Buddhist teachings are asking
various questions with regards to the Buddhist teachings. Some are just
technical questions and some are really direct questions which are supportive
to the path. Anyhow, for a newcomer the question is important and answering
them clearly will help to lead them to their destination. So, let me use this
month’s editorial to answer such a question in brief, which can be supportive
to understand your journey!
If you
have already started listening to Buddhist teachings, you may have come across
the words like “Puthujjana - wordings”… and the “Arya person – noble person”
etc., So, sometimes people ask question about these stages. What are
they, what is the base for these stages, where are we in these… etc. So,
let’s find out briefly. Let me extract the journey of existence
till the end. Whether you finished it or not it’s up to you. But the
journey aligns like this and whether you like it or not you are already a part
of it. And find out where you placed in this map right now.
Our
existence begins as a worldling. An ordinary worldling who is not aware
of the eternal truth at all. So, this is in a way all about the decisions
they make and where those decisions place the worldling in the
existence.
An
uninstructed worldling – “Ashruthawath Puthujjana” who is not interested in anything call eternal
truth or about this existence, they just behave blindly according to the way
they wish. They don’t care about what is right and wrong, they just keep
harming others for their self-satisfactions. They just don’t believe in a
noble level or anyone with higher knowledge than they. They are just so
selfish and believe they know everything and act accordingly. As these
ones are not listening or not heard about the eternal truth and behaving like
the ignorant ones by being blind to the truth, we can call this stage as
the “Andha Bala Puthujjana means a Blind ignorant Worldling”.
And then
some of them can be sensed the harm they make and how restless they are. So,
they seek for a better state of mind. Then they try good things… like
giving, respecting others, listening to others etc... Then here comes the stage
of having a happy mind through the good deeds they have done. So, they
feel the value of being integrity. Then they seek for such
companionships. They learn about the great teachers like Buddha, Jesus,
Various Gods, Allah etc. Then they listen to those teachings too and
develop their skills of doing good things to their selves and to the
others. No more selfishness. This stage they still not aware of the
eternal truth. But they are standing on a point where they are open
enough to know the eternal truth. Coz now they have the quality of
listening and respecting others by knowing that there are lots to know.
We don’t call the people at this point as “Andha Bala Puthujjana means a Blind
ignorant Worldling”. At this stage we can all them “Ashruthawath
Sathpurusha Puthujjana - uninstructed worldling with integrity”
And then
after this few continue their journey towards the eternal truth while few are
happy with their current stage of being just a person with integrity –
Sathpurusha. Those who are moving towards the eternal truth and want to
be liberated from this existence. They are focusing on that. Then
we can identify as the “Kalyana Puthujjana – A fine Worldling”.
They are now more with virtue, more with listening, more into the respect
others and the teachers whom share the teachings about liberation.
After
this stage they are coming to a certain point where they come across about the
eternal truth. About the true liberation. Their mind focusses in to
listening more about it. Their interest of companionships develops to the
level of having people whom already aware about this eternal truth. They
find the deep teachings of eternal truth. Then they come to a point where
they are certain about the eternal truth, but still NOT REALIZE the eternal
truth. In this stage they are listening to what they should listen.
You know we can listen to anything. But what is worthy? What is
actually worth to listen? That’s the eternal truth, right? Yes,
that’s why at this stage these ones are no more the “Uninstructed worldling -
Ashruthawath Puthujjana” They are becoming the Noble ones. They are
becoming the Instructed, well learned, hearing what they should heard means
“Shruthawath”. Now they are not just worldling whom are wondering. They
are focusing on liberating from the existence. So, they call “Arya”
means “The one who are ready to end the journey of existence” and now
they listen to the disciples of Samma Sambuddha who is the teacher shown the
cease of existence, the real liberation by realizing the eternal truth of Arya
Sathya. So, they are listeners means Shrawaka. So, now they
call “Well instructed, or well learned listeners or disciples or the
people whom ceasing the journey of existence - “Shruthawath Arya Sharawaka”.
Now,
remember at this stage they are still not realize the eternal truth. But
they are certain about that this is going to be the truth by having a proper
guess after listening. So, they are in a stage where they still follow
the path of being fully realized about the eternal truth. They are about
to jump into the stream where leads to the ocean is called liberation.
They are on the path to the stream. So, for the people in this stage, we
call it in Dhamma “The follower of stream enterer – Sotāpanna Magga
Anugamika”. Magga means the path
and Anugamika means the follower. And some of them listening
and realizing what they listen because of their unconditioned faith, trust
which means “Saddha” so they are called “Saddanusari - the
follower based on their Faith, truth”. And there are some of them
listening and realizing, because they make sense, and filled with wisdom and
it’s a very deep teaching. So, they are called “Dammanusari - the
follower based on the deep teachings". Both categories come to
the realization finally. They have gained the fruit of their
dedication. They finally realize what is eternal truth and what
liberation means. This stage we call them “Sotāpanna Magga Pala
labhi Person - The Stream-enterer, Stream Attainer”
Now the
noble journey of ending the existence the true liberation has begun. As
now with the realization of the eternal truth the journey is fixed with the
liberation. Nothing more to realize new. Now it’s kind of
liberating from each condition with true understanding of the eternal
truth. So, this has again another few stages and altogether it’s
8 stages.
- The follower of
stream enterer (the one who entered into the path of the stream)
– Sotāpanna Magga Anugamika
- The Stream-enterer
(the one who entered into the stream) – Sotāpanna Magga Pala labhi
Person
- The follower of
once-returner (the one who entered into the path of the river)
– Sakadāgāmi, Sakurdāgāmi Magga Anugamika. You know once you
entered into the stream the stream leads you to the river which leads to
the ocean. This stage is like that you are at the end of the stream
which leads to the river.
- The Once-enterer (the
one who entered into the river) – Sakadāgāmi Magga Pala labhi Person
- The follower of
non-returner (the one who follows the river) – Anāgāmi Magga
Anugamika. Once you entered into the river there is no turning
back. So, it confirms that you are nearing to the ocean only.
These stages are like your journey in the river.
- The Non-enterer (the
one who entered into the river) – Sakadāgāmi Magga Pala labhi Person
- The follower of
Arahantship (the one who follow the Ocean) – Arahant Magga
Anugamika. This is like the stage where river and ocean meet.
There is still a little away to go to meet the ocean and becomes the
ocean.
- The Liberated one the
worthy one - Arhant Magga Pala labhi One
That’s
it… this the journey of yours if you seek for an end!
If you
are still not in to this. Doesn’t matter. Like we discussed at the
beginning there will be a time for you to feel the tiredness of
repetition, the restless and the empty feeling of where nothing can be
satisfied, you anymore and your mind seeks for a solution… the reason for all
these… and liberation! Then your journey will continue towards
the end. Till then, have fun at where ever you are standing at the
moment. If you feel that you should step towards the end after
seeing this map then you are welcome to the world of people who seeks for
liberation! Have a blessed time my dear dhamma friends!
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