7 direct-knowledges to attain the fruit of Stream-entry (sotāpattiphala)

Hi all, this is a sutta sharing post. Hope you will put this into practice and it will benefit you all toward the Sotapanna stage.

In Kosambiya sutta (MN48) the Buddha teaches about 6 qualities (make for fondness and respect, conducing to inclusion, harmony, and unity, without quarreling) and 7 direct-knowledges () (for cultivating the Sotāpanna magga to culmination, i.e. Sotāpanna phala / sotāpattiphala)

I have recompose the sutta here for the sake of compactness:

“… So it seems that when you’re arguing you are not treating each other with kindness. So what exactly do you know and see, you foolish men, that you behave in such a way? This will be for your lasting harm and suffering.
These six warm-hearted qualities make for fondness and respect, conducing to inclusion, harmony, and unity, without quarreling. What six?

1. Firstly, a bhikkhu consistently treats their spiritual companions with bodily kindness, both in public and in private …

2. Furthermore, a bhikkhu consistently treats their spiritual companions with verbal kindness …

3. Furthermore, a bhikkhu consistently treats their spiritual companions with mental kindness …

4. Furthermore, a bhikkhu shares without reservation any material possessions they have gained by legitimate means, even the food placed in the alms-bowl, using them in common with their ethical spiritual companions …

5. Furthermore, a bhikkhu lives according to the precepts shared with their spiritual companions, both in public and in private. Those precepts (sīla) are unbroken, impeccable, spotless, and unmarred, liberating, praised by sensible people, not mistaken, and leading to immersion (samādhi) …

6. Furthermore, a bhikkhu lives according to the view (ariyā diṭṭhi) shared with their spiritual companions, both in public and in private. That view is noble and emancipating, and leads one who practices it to the complete ending of suffering.

Of these six warm-hearted qualities, the chief is the view that is noble and emancipating, and leads one who practices it to the complete ending of suffering. It holds and binds everything together.

And how does the view that is noble and emancipating lead one who practices it to the complete ending of suffering?
There are seven direct-knowledges they have achieved that is noble and transcendent, and is not shared with ordinary people. What seven?

1. It’s when a bhikkhu has gone to a wilderness, or to the root of a tree, or to an empty hut, and reflects like this:
‘Is there anything that I’m overcome with internally and haven’t given up, because of which I might not accurately know and see?’
If a bhikkhu is overcome with sensual desire, ill will, dullness and drowsiness, restlessness and remorse, doubt; pursuing speculation about this world, pursuing speculation about the next world; or arguing, quarreling, and fighting, continually wounding others with barbed words, it’s their mind that’s overcome.
They understand:
‘There is nothing that I’m overcome with internally and haven’t given up, because of which I might not accurately know and see. My mind is properly disposed for awakening to the truths.’

2. Furthermore, a noble disciple reflects:
‘When I develop, cultivate, and make much of this view, do I personally gain serenity and quenching?’
They understand:
‘When I develop, cultivate, and make much of this view, I personally gain serenity and quenching.’

3. Furthermore, a noble disciple reflects:
‘Are there any ascetics or brahmins outside of the Buddhist community who have the same kind of view that I have?’
They understand:
‘There are no ascetics or brahmins outside of the Buddhist community who have the same kind of view that I have.’

4. Furthermore, a noble disciple reflects:
‘Do I have the same nature as a person accomplished in view?’
And what, bhikkhus, is the nature of a person accomplished in view? This is the nature of a person accomplished in view. Though they may fall into a kind of offense for which rehabilitation has been laid down, they quickly disclose, clarify, and reveal it to the Teacher or a sensible spiritual companion. And having revealed it they restrain themselves in the future. Suppose there was a little baby boy. If he puts his hand or foot on a burning coal, he quickly pulls it back. In the same way, this is the nature of a person accomplished in view. Though they may still fall into a kind of offense for which rehabilitation has been laid down, they quickly reveal it to the Teacher or a sensible spiritual companion. And having revealed it they restrain themselves in the future.
They understand:
‘I have the same nature as a person accomplished in view.’

5. Furthermore, a noble disciple reflects:
‘Do I have the same nature as a person accomplished in view?’
And what, bhikkhus, is the nature of a person accomplished in view? This is the nature of a person accomplished in view. Though they might manage a diverse spectrum of duties for their spiritual companions, they still feel a keen regard for the training in higher ethics, higher mind, and higher wisdom. Suppose there was a cow with a baby calf. She keeps the calf close as she grazes. In the same way, this is the nature of a person accomplished in view. Though they might manage a diverse spectrum of duties for their spiritual companions, they still feel a keen regard for the training in higher ethics, higher mind, and higher wisdom.
They understand:
‘I have the same nature as a person accomplished in view.’

6. Furthermore, a noble disciple reflects:
‘Do I have the same strength as a person accomplished in view?’
And what, bhikkhus, is the strength of a person accomplished in view? The strength of a person accomplished in view is that, when the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One are being taught, they pay heed, pay attention, engage wholeheartedly, and lend an ear.
They understand: ‘I have the same strength as a person accomplished in view.’

7. Furthermore, a noble disciple reflects:
‘Do I have the same strength as a person accomplished in view?’
And what, bhikkhus, is the strength of a person accomplished in view? The strength of a person accomplished in view is that, when the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One are being taught, they find joy in the meaning and the teaching, and find joy connected with the teaching.
They understand: ‘I have the same strength as a person accomplished in view.’

When a noble disciple has these seven factors, they have properly investigated their own nature with respect to the realization of the fruit of stream-entry. A noble disciple with these seven factors has the fruit of stream-entry.”