0 votes
by (2.1k points)
As in are there 3 stages of Sotapanna then Sakadāgāmin, Anāgāmi, Arhant totalling 6 stages of or are the 3 stages of Sotapanna also referring to the Sakadāgāmin and Anāgāmi totalling only 4 stages. In a similar way that a Buddha is an also Arhant but an Arhant is not a Buddha, like a Anāgāmi is also a Sotapanna but a Sotapanna is not an Anāgāmi?

For reference I am reading: https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/study/into_the_stream.html#intro2
AN 3.89
Edit: CTRL+F AN 3.89 or it is under the rewards of a sotapanna section

Also for reference https://discourse.suttacentral.net/t/different-kinds-of-sotapanna/5790
by (2.1k points)
In case you did not read the sutta:

"[Some,] with the wasting away of the three fetters, are 'one-seed-ers' (ekabijin): After taking rebirth only one more time on the human plane, they will put an end to stress.

"Or, not breaking through to that, not penetrating that, with the wasting away of the three fetters they are 'family-to-family-ers' (kolankola): After transmigrating & wandering on through two or three more families [according to the Commentary, this phrase should be interpreted as 'through two to six more states of becoming'], they will put an end to stress.

"Or, not breaking through to that, not penetrating that, with the wasting away of the three fetters they are 'seven-times-at-most-ers' (sattakkhattuparama): After transmigrating & wandering on among devas & human beings, they will put an end to stress."

— AN 3.89

Obviously a sotapanna does not have to be reborn 7 times, he/she may attain the higher stages or nibbana in the same life.
Still referring to the original question this explanation seems that there is either 3 different levels of a sotapannas attainment or different names for Sakadagami and Anghami.
by (8.5k points)
There's only one level of sotapanna according to our tradition.
by (2.1k points)
This is the from the theravada tradition?
by (8.5k points)
Yes, theravada is what we practice here.
by (18.8k points)
I did read the sutta and I standby the answer provided.  The attainment is the same. They are just different classification on when they may attain full liberation.

1 Answer

0 votes
by (18.8k points)
They are not 3 stages of Sotapanna. A Sotapanna will attain complete liberation within a maximum of seven lives. That means it can happen within this very life or at any time before 7 lives end. These are just classifications depending on when they may attain full liberation. The attainment is the same in terms of number of fetters destroyed.

But when you compare Sotapanna to Sakadagami, Anghami etc. they are clearly different stages as the number of fetters destroyed are different.
by (2.1k points)
In case you did not read the sutta:

"[Some,] with the wasting away of the three fetters, are 'one-seed-ers' (ekabijin): After taking rebirth only one more time on the human plane, they will put an end to stress.

"Or, not breaking through to that, not penetrating that, with the wasting away of the three fetters they are 'family-to-family-ers' (kolankola): After transmigrating & wandering on through two or three more families [according to the Commentary, this phrase should be interpreted as 'through two to six more states of becoming'], they will put an end to stress.

"Or, not breaking through to that, not penetrating that, with the wasting away of the three fetters they are 'seven-times-at-most-ers' (sattakkhattuparama): After transmigrating & wandering on among devas & human beings, they will put an end to stress."

— AN 3.89

Obviously a sotapanna does not have to be reborn 7 times, he/she may attain the higher stages or nibbana in the same life.
Still referring to the original question this explanation seems that there is either 3 different levels of a sotapannas attainment or different names for Sakadagami and Anghami.
by (8.5k points)
There's only one level of sotapanna according to our tradition.
by (2.1k points)
This is the from the theravada tradition?
by (8.5k points)
Yes, theravada is what we practice here.
by (18.8k points)
I did read the sutta and I standby the answer provided.  The attainment is the same. They are just different classification on when they may attain full liberation.
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