Dear Akvan Sir,
Theruvan saranai
Thanks a lot for your encouragement. I truly appreciate your help.
Yes, you said it right – “Just because one couldn’t attain any magga pala in the past doesn’t mean that he cannot attain it now or in the future.”
I also agree when you said – “But just because one hears it doesn’t mean that he will understand it. And it is the proper understanding that is necessary and not merely hearing it.”
But when you said – “So to your question of why we didn’t attain any magga pala even though we may have heard the dhamma earlier, it would have been because our pragna may not have been developed to the required level.”
This is the point where my doubt is.
I mean, on one hand it is said that we all have been to all the apayas, in all the deva lokas, in all the brahma lokas (even in the highest arupa lokas) infinite number of times in this beginning-less sansara. We even have been born human (and have heard the Buddha Dhamma) infinite number of times in the past.
But on the other hand it is said that we are still here in sansara because we have NEVER attained any magga-phala in any of our infinite number of past lives.
Isn’t it strange that I have not been able to develop the required level of “panna” for attaining the Sotapanna stage in any of my infinite number of past lives ?
Isn’t it shocking that I have not fulfilled the conditions of becoming a Sotapanna in any of my infinite number of past lives ?
I mean how is it possible ?
For me, this point is very hard to believe. It is very difficult to digest.
But I have no choice. I have to believe this strange “assumption”, otherwise my mind will not be able to focus on the path.
Anyways, thanks again for your help.
MAY ALL BEINGS ATTAIN NIBBANA !!!