Four Stages of Enlightenment - Path and Fruit

Path and Fruit

Supra-mundane stages, fetters and rebirths
(according to the Sutta Piṭaka)

stage's
"fruit"

abandoned
fetters

rebirth(s)
until suffering's end

stream-enterer

1. identity view
2. doubt
3. ritual attachment

lower
fetters

up to seven more times as
a human or in a heaven

once-returner

once more as
a human

non-returner

4. sensual desire
5. ill will

once more in
a pure abode

arahant

6. material-rebirth lust
7. immaterial-rebirth lust
8. conceit
9. restlessness
10. ignorance

higher
fetters

none

Source: Ñāṇamoli & Bodhi (2001), Middle-Length Discourses, pp. 41-43.
See also: Phala

The Sutta Pitaka classifies the four levels according to the levels' attainments. The Sthaviravada/Theravada tradition, which believes that "progress in understanding comes all at once, 'insight' (abhisamaya) does not come 'gradually' (successively - anapurva)," has elaborated on this classification, describing each of the four levels as a path to be attained suddenly, followed by the realisation of the fruit of the path.

The process of becoming an Arahat is therefore characterized by four distinct and sudden changes, instead of a gradual development. The same stance is taken in the contemporary Vipassana movement, especially the so-called "New Burmese Method".

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