Arhat and bodhisattva

Overview

Four stages of Awakening recognised in the Theravada tradition, title arhat and bodhisattva as the Mahayana tradition uses the term.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   State the four stages of Awakening recognised in the Theravada tradition.

   Model answer

   They are the stream-winner, the once-returner, the non-returner and the arhat.

2. 2

   Which fetters does the stream-winner break?

   Model answer

   The stream-winner abandons belief in a personal self, doubt about the path, and attachment to rites and rituals as sufficient in themselves.

3. 3

   What distinguishes the once-returner?

   Model answer

   Greed, hatred and delusion are substantially weakened, so at most one further rebirth in the human world remains.

4. 4

   What distinguishes the non-returner?

   Model answer

   Sensual desire and ill-will are destroyed as well, so there is no further rebirth in this world and the final stage is completed elsewhere.

5. 5

   What has the arhat achieved?

   Model answer

   The arhat has destroyed the remaining fetters, including conceit and ignorance, and so is free of craving and of any further rebirth.

6. 6

   What does the title arhat mean, and how is it used of the Buddha?

   Model answer

   It means worthy one, and the Buddha is himself called an arhat, since the liberation is the same though he discovered the path unaided.

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