1. The requirement to attain the Sotapanna stage is the following:
- One must clearly ‘see with wisdom’ that attachment to sensory inputs in the ‘kama loka‘ (that means attaching to sights, sounds, tastes, smells, and touches) prolongs the rebirth process. Not only that, but such attachment extends the rebirth process within the ‘kama loka‘ (which includes the human realm and also the apayas).
- However, it does not require one to stop attaching to sensory inputs in the ‘kama loka.‘ That happens at the Anagami stage.
- Still, ‘seeing with wisdom’ the dangers of attaching to sensory inputs is enough to avoid engaging in the worst types of akualsa kamma that can lead to rebirths in the apayas (because of the elimination of the three ditthi samyojana).
2. The problem is that it is very hard to pin down how that ‘seeing with wisdom’ happens.
- Some people in the days of the Buddha were able to ‘see with wisdom’ the futility (and dangers, because it can lead to strong akusala kamma leading to rebirths in the apayas) of attachment to sensory inputs in the ‘kama loka,‘ even by listening to a one or two discourses from the Buddha.
- However, these days it has become hard. One reason is that the true teachings are hard to find, and most people are confused by seeing various versions.
- Furthermore, even in the days of the Buddha, there were people who spent many years close to the Buddha, but were unable to attain even the Sotapanna stage. A good example was Devadatta, Princess Yasodhara’s brother, who became a bhikkhu at the same time as Ven. Ananda. He could not grasp the teachings, tried to take the life of the Buddha, and was born in an apaya. That means he never attained the Sotapanna stage.
- Another example was Channa, who accompanied the Buddha (or rather the Bodhisatta, Prince Siddhatta) when Prince Siddhatta left the palace. He became a bhikkhu soon after the Prince attained Buddhahood, but could not attain even the Sotapanna stage until after the Buddha’s Parinibbana. Later on, when he sought advice from Arahants, they told him to contemplate the anicca, dukkha, and anatta nature of attaching to sensory inputs. But he said to himself, “I know all that by heart, but I also know that I have not grasped the Dhamma.” Finally, he sought help from Ven. Ananda. After hearing a discourse from Ven. Ananda, he attained Sotapanna phala. This account is in the “Channa Sutta (SN 22.90)“; The translation there is not great, but one can get the idea.
3. So, it is hard to pin down how that ‘seeing with wisdom’ happens.
- One just has to keep trying to get there.
- I will do my best to answer questions. I will also write more posts to clarify any issues based on forum questions.
- In the next post, I plan to provide some guidelines that could be helpful. One problem we have today is that people don’t know which suttas (or concepts) to study first.
- For example, there is very little benefit in trying to practice Satipatthana before attaining the Sotapanna stage, as I have explained: “Ānāpāna – Adopting Buddha’s Worldview and Discarding ‘Mundane Views’.” However, many people study the Mahāsatipaṭṭhāna Sutta (DN 22) and even try to practice the content before attaining the Sotapanna stage. That is a waste of time, as they should spend that time learning concepts that can help them reach the Sotapanna stage!
