What is meant bij ‘the stream’?
From SN55.5 (translation Bodhi)
…”Sariputta, this is said: ‘The stream, the stream.’ What now Sariputta, is the stream?”
“This Noble Eightfold Path, venerable sir, is the stream; that is: right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration.”
“Good, good, Sariputta! This Noble Eightfold Path is the stream; that is, right view…right concentration.
“Sariputta, this is said: ‘A stream-enterer, a stream-enterer.’ What now, Sariputta, is a stream-enterer?”
“One who possesses this Noble Eightfold Path, venerable sir, is called a stream-enterer: this venerable one of such a name and clan.”
“Good, good, Sariputta! One who possesses this Noble Eightfold Path is a stream-enterer: this venerable one of such a name and clan.”
I belief, but correct me if i am wrong, MN117 makes clear one has to discern two Path’s, one mundane and one supra-mundane or one mundane and one nobel.
For example the factor right view. There are two kinds. There is mundane right view and nobel. Mundane right view is for example that there is rebirth, a father and mother, results of giving, working of kamma. Regarding this kind of right view it is said (MN117§6) …it “is affected by taints, partaking of merit, ripening on the side of attachment….”. So right view can be affected by taints. This right view is meritorious and leads to high rebirth but does not by itself lead to an ending of the rebirth proces.
And then there is right view that is noble, taintless, supramundane, a factor of the path“.
I belief this last view is meant when it said that a stream-enterer posseses the Nobel Eightfold Path (is this case right view). Not meant is the mundane Path.
Siebe