Buddhist Practices - Attainment of Enlightenment - Theravada

Theravada

• Four stages of enlightenment (see also: Ariya-puggala — Noble Ones)
  • Sotāpanna — Stream-enterer (first stage of enlightenment) — one who has "opened the eye of the Dhamma", and is guaranteed enlightenment after no more than seven successive rebirths, having eradicated the first three fetters
    • The four factors leading to stream-entry
      • Association with superior persons
      • Hearing the true Dhamma
      • Careful attention
      • Practice in accordance with the Dhamma
    • The four factors of a stream-enterer
      • Possessing confirmed confidence in the Buddha
      • Possessing confirmed confidence in the Dhamma
      • Possessing confirmed confidence in the Sangha
      • Possessing moral virtues dear to the noble ones
  • Sakadagami — Once-returner (second stage of enlightenment) — will be reborn into the human world once more, before attaining enlightenment, having eradicated the first three fetters and attenuated greed, hatred, and delusion
  • Anāgāmi — Non-returner (third stage of enlightenment) — does not come back into human existence, or any lower world, after death, but is reborn in the "Pure Abodes", where he will attain Nirvāṇa, having eradicated the first five fetters
  • Arahant — "Worthy One", (see also: Arhat), a fully enlightened human being who has abandoned all ten fetters, and who upon decease (Parinibbāna) will not be reborn in any world, having wholly abandoned saṃsāra