Reply To: Determining if I have reached the Sōtapannaa stage

#26629
Lal
Keymaster

Thanks, Aniduan, for the detailed account.

We can look at the overall picture this way.

Normally, one loses all three (sakkāya ditthi, vicikiccā, silabbata parāmāsa) in one moment, at the moment of attaining the Sotapanna phala.
– However, one will start weakening them gradually as a Sotapanna Anugami.

Losing sakkāya ditthi is to “see” that no existence in this world can lead to the “end of suffering.”
– One also knows that the root cause of suffering is attachment to worldly things.
However, one starts losing those cravings only in stages. That means even if one “knows” that craving for sensory pleasures can lead to suffering, one will only lose those strongest cravings (that could lead to actions resulting in rebirth in the apayas.)
– It is only when one reaches the Anagami stage that one’s sanna (perception) for ANY sensory pleasure (including sex) will go away.

That is the “big picture.”

Regarding other questions:
Getting rid of the “Big Eight” only sets the necessary background to comprehend Tilakkhana.
– Understanding Tilakkha is tied to understanding Paticca Samuppada too. How different types of rebirths arise due to different types of (abhi)sankhara, i.e., one’s thoughts, speech, and actions.

Kukkucca means the tendency to do “lowly actions” that could lead to rebirth in the apayas.
– When one can get highly-attached to sensory pleasures, one may impulsively do such lowly actions like rape or other sexual misconduct like having extra-marital affairs.

Tina and middha will go away with continued understanding.
– We can consider this example. If one is reading material that one does not fully understand, then one can get bored.
– This issue is easy to see with “mundane studies” like learning history or even mathematics. If one starts understanding the basic concepts, then it is easy to maintain the interest.
– With Dhamma studies, it is hard to pinpoint where the “missing pieces are.” So, it is a good idea to look at different sections of the puredhamma site. Another is to read/listen to other sources. We have discussed some possibilities in the discussion forum, for example, under “Personal Experiences.” Different people have different “styles” of delivery, even if it is the same concept.
– However, it could be a waste of time to read/listen to random sources.