Section X. The Planes of Realization

Ascending the path - The eight step journey to enlightenment

The cultivation of wisdom in Buddhism is centered around achieving Nibbāna, and the Nikāyas describe a structured progression of stages in this spiritual journey. Initially, individuals are described as uninstructed worldlings, who are ignorant of the Dhamma's truths, but can evolve into an arahant, the highest state of liberation where one comprehends fully the Four Noble Truths and realizes Nibbāna. The journey involves transitioning through various stages of spiritual nobility, identified as ariyapuggala, where each stage consists of a path (magga) and its fruition (phala). These stages include the stream-enterer, once-returner, non-returner, and arahant, each defined by specific spiritual milestones and the eradication of particular defilements. The progression not only entails the loss of these defilements but also an increasing strength in spiritual faculties as one advances.

Each type of noble person, from the stream-enterer to the arahant, transcends different fetters (saṃyojana) that bind them to samsaric existence. For instance, a stream-enterer eliminates identity view, doubt, and the misapprehension of rules, ensuring they won't be reborn into lower realms and will achieve full enlightenment within a maximum of seven more lives. The once-returner weakens further the roots of lust, hatred, and delusion, while the nonreturner overcomes all attachments to the sensual world and is reborn in the "pure abodes," destined for final Nibbāna without returning to the sensual realms. The arahant, having eradicated all fetters, including subtle desires and ignorance, reaches the pinnacle of spiritual liberation. These stages not only delineate the spiritual progression towards Nibbāna but also emphasize the different capacities and practices needed at each stage, including meditation and insight, tailored to the individual's dominant spiritual faculties.

Introduction in full ↗️

1. The Field of Merit for the World

2. Eight Persons Worthy of Gifts (AN 8.59)

3. Differentiation by Faculties (SN 48.18) [Related: SN 48.10]

4. In the Dhamma Well Expounded (from MN 22)

5. The Completeness of the Teaching (from MN 73)

6. Seven Kinds of Noble Persons (from MN 70)

7. Stream-Entry

8. The Four Factors Leading to Stream-Entry (SN 55.5)

9. Entering the Fixed Course of Rightness (SN 25.1)

10. The Breakthrough to the Dhamma (SN 13.1)

11. The Four Factors of a Stream-Enterer (SN 55.2) [Related: (SN 55.1) ]

12. Better than Sovereignty over the Earth (SN 55.1)

13. Non-returning

14. Abandoning the Five Lower Fetters (from MN 64)

15. Four Kinds of Persons (AN 4.169)

16. Six Things that Partake of True Knowledge (SN 55.3)

17. Five Kinds of Non-returners (SN 46.3)

18. The Arahant

19. Removing the Residual Conceit “I Am” (SN 22.89)

20. The Trainee and the Arahant (SN 48.53)

21. A Monk Whose Crossbar Has Been Lifted (from MN 22)

22. Nine Things an Arahant Cannot Do (from AN 9.7)

23. A Mind Unshaken (from AN 9.26)

24. The Ten Powers of an Arahant Monk (AN 10.90)

25. The Sage at Peace (from MN 140)

26. Happy Indeed Are the Arahants (from SN 22.76)

27. The Tathāgata

28. The Buddha and the Arahant (SN 22.58)

29. For the Welfare of Many (Iti 84)

30. Sāriputta’s Lofty Utterance (SN 47.12)

31. The Powers and Grounds of Self-Confidence (from MN 12)

32. The Manifestation of Great Light (SN 56.38)

33. The Man Desiring Our Good (from MN 19)

34. The Lion (SN 22.78)

35. Why Is He Called the Tathāgata? (AN 4.23 = Iti 112)

This is the table of contents for the tenth and final section of: In the Buddha’s Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon by Bhikkhu Bodhi, published by Wisdom Publications. The translations are based on the freely available translations on suttacentral, dhammatalks edited for overall consistency while staying faithful to the original Pali texts by OP.

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