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**GoodLover** · 03-16-2011, 02:55 PM

I just finished reading this paper by Bodhiketu of the Western Buddhist Order (found it through Google), which examines our views on what the various stages of Enlightenment actually are like; what "enlightened people" might be like.

I was surprised when this paper began to speak of two different views expressed in the Pali Canon (Tipitaka) and Commentaries regarding the very first stage of awakening, called Stream-Entry (Sotapanna). Many times I've heard forum members declare that such a mind has near-perfect morality, and assumed they must be right, but how many of us know anyone with near-perfect morality? This makes stream-entry seem like it would be rare, and we'd easily be able to tell if a friend of ours "entered the stream". Maybe not so! After reading this, I'd be inclined to think that there might be such people even on this forum...

I have to warn everyone though, this is 10 pages long. It describes each of the four Theravada stages of enlightenment (stream-entry would be equivalent to the first bhumi in Mahayana), as well as tells us some of the reasons these people might not claim Enlightenment at all. It makes sense to me, but you'll have to judge for yourself.

Looking forward to comments!
(The web address is http://www.westernbuddhistreview.com...f-the-path.pdf which is too big to attach...)

03-16-2011, 02:55 PM	#1
GoodLover Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 362 Senior Member	Stages of the Path: Stream-Entry and Beyond I just finished reading this paper by Bodhiketu of the Western Buddhist Order (found it through Google), which examines our views on what the various stages of Enlightenment actually are like; what "enlightened people" might be like. I was surprised when this paper began to speak of two different views expressed in the Pali Canon (Tipitaka) and Commentaries regarding the very first stage of awakening, called Stream-Entry (Sotapanna). Many times I've heard forum members declare that such a mind has near-perfect morality, and assumed they must be right, but how many of us know anyone with near-perfect morality? This makes stream-entry seem like it would be rare, and we'd easily be able to tell if a friend of ours "entered the stream". Maybe not so! After reading this, I'd be inclined to think that there might be such people even on this forum... I have to warn everyone though, this is 10 pages long. It describes each of the four Theravada stages of enlightenment (stream-entry would be equivalent to the first bhumi in Mahayana), as well as tells us some of the reasons these people might not claim Enlightenment at all. It makes sense to me, but you'll have to judge for yourself. Looking forward to comments! (The web address is http://www.westernbuddhistreview.com...f-the-path.pdf which is too big to attach...)
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