Hello and welcome to another edition of Quick Buddhist Lectures for Learning.
Today we are going to be talking about the four stages of awakening in Theravada and early or classical Buddhism.
Those stages are Sotapanna,
Which is stream enterer,
Sakadagami,
Once returner,
Anagami,
Non-returner,
And Arhat,
Or worthy one.
These stages describe the progressive path of purification and insight that leads to the ultimate goal in Buddhism,
Nirvana,
Or the complete cessation of suffering.
We aren't going to be talking about how you get to these places,
We are simply going to be understanding what they are here.
The first is Sotapanna,
Or stream enterer.
The first stage of awakening is of course Sotapanna.
This stage is marked by a profound shift in understanding and perception.
The person who reaches this stage has quote,
Entered the stream of the Dhamma,
Ensuring that they will inevitably reach full awakening.
The Sotapanna has eradicated the first three fetters,
Self-identity view,
Doubt in the Buddha,
Dharma,
And Sangha,
And clinging to rites and rituals.
They have seen the truth of the Dhamma for themselves and have an unshakable faith in the Buddha,
The Dhamma,
And the Sangha.
They are no longer subject to rebirth in lower realms and will achieve full awakening within seven lifetimes at most,
At least that's what the old texts say.
The second stage is that of Sakadagami,
Or once returner.
This individual has not only eradicated the first three fetters,
But has also significantly weakened the next two,
Sensual desire and ill will.
As the name suggests,
The once returner will return to the human realm at most one time before achieving full awakening.
Their practice deepens the understanding and embodiment of the Dhamma,
Further diminishing the roots of greed,
Hatred,
And delusion.
The third stage is called Anagami,
Or non-returner.
This individual has completely eradicated the first five fetters.
They have entirely overcome sensual desire and ill will to deeply ingrained defilements,
And as a result they will not return to the human realm or any lower realm.
If they do not attain full awakening in their lifetime,
They will be reborn into one of the pure abodes,
Which is a high realm in the system of Buddhist cosmology,
And in those pure abodes they will reach awakening there.
The fourth and final stage is that of the Arhat,
Or the awakened being,
Often translated as worthy one as well.
The Arhat has eradicated all ten fetters,
Including the subtlest forms of desire for existence and ignorance.
They have uprooted all traces of greed,
Hatred,
And delusion.
The mind of an Arhat is completely free from suffering and the cycle of birth and death.
They have realized nirvana in this very life,
Experiencing the unconditioned peace and freedom that the Buddha spoke of.
The journey through these stages is not uniform for everyone.
It requires dedicated practice,
Continuous effort,
And deepening wisdom,
And if you want to take a very long view and Buddhist view at it,
Many,
Many lifetimes.
But the Buddha assures us that this journey is possible for every one of us.
He himself is the proof,
And so are countless thousands of awakened beings who have walked this path throughout history.
This was a short introduction to the four classical stages of awakening in Theravada Buddhism and early Buddhism.
Thank you so much for listening.
I hope you're enjoying these,
And I'm Silas Day.
