The stage of a Gotrabu

[villkorkarma]

Hello
Goenka says in the video - stages of enlightenment - www.youtube.com
that when one experiencing the first stage of enlightenment - after he have reached nibbanic stage
that he is now a change person, he cant generate any new sankharas that will take him to lower fields of life...
What is he meaning? And how does one knows that? Did Siddharta Goutami reached the stage of an Arahant in his lifetime we heard about?
Happy New Year

[Anicca]

The first stage of enlightenment is sotapanna: Stream winner. A person who has abandoned the first three of the fetters that bind the mind to the cycle of rebirth (see samyojana) and has thus entered the "stream" flowing inexorably to nibbana, ensuring that one will be reborn at most only seven more times, and only into human or higher realms.
From AccessToInsight glossary.

From the same site:

The four pairs of persons constitute the four kinds of aryan disciples who have attained the four paths and four fruits of sanctity (magga and phala), namely: sotapatti, "stream-entry"; sakadagami, "once-return"; anagami, "non-return"; and arahattha, arahantship, the fourth and the last stage at which all fetters are severed and taints rooted out.

metta

[villkorkarma]

i find a little text here
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/The_Buddha/message/66
Having thus dispelled the thick murk that hides the truth, he clearly saw as one did the moon clearly in the cloudless sky; and realized the Great Light of Nibbana through the Knowledge of the First Path Sotapatti magga Nana which immediately follows Gotrabu Nana the Knowledge of overcoming of worldly ties and changing over to noble lineage. (The thought moment of Sotapatti magga Nana appeared once and ceased; this is immediately followed by the appearance and cessation three times of Javana, impulsion of Sotapatti phala which is the effect of the said Sotapatti magga, in accordance with the attribute of the Dhamma known as Akalika (Immediate Fruition). Then follows the flow of bhavanga citta).

Because the Sotapatti-magga, had been attained thus, the mind continuum of the Bodhisatta was completely rid of the three defilements, namely sakkaya ditthi* Vicikiccha** and Silabbataparamasa***. These defilements would never rise again in the Bodhisatta's mind continuum.

* Sakkaya ditthi: belief in the illusion that there is Self, Soul;

** Vicikiccha- doubt or wavering of mind about 1. the Buddha; 2. the Dhamma; 3. the Sangha; 4. the disciplinary rules (sikkha); 5. the past; 6. the future; 7. both past and future; 8. Dependent Origination (Paticcasamuppada.)

*** Silabbataparamasa--Adherence to wrongful rites and ceremonies; the misleading belief that there are paths other than the Ariya Path of Eight Constituents that can liberate one from dukkha.

[Anicca]

Did Siddharta Goutami reached the stage of an Arahant in his lifetime we heard about?

There are three types of fully awakened beings - a Buddha, enlightened on his own and teaches, a Pacceka-buddha, enlightened by and for himself, who does not teach and an Arahant, who follows the teachings of a Buddha.

Happy New Year!

metta

[parth]

villkorkarma wrote:
Did Siddharta Goutami reached the stage of an Arahant in his lifetime we heard about?

Not only did he reach arahant stage but taught dhamma to others as well so that thousands of people during his lifetime and afterwards became arhants.

Metta

Parth.

[villkorkarma]

The first stage of enlightenment is sotapanna: Stream winner. A person who has abandoned the first three of the fetters that bind the mind to the cycle of rebirth (see samyojana) and has thus entered the "stream" flowing inexorably to nibbana, ensuring that one will be reborn at most only seven more times, and only into human or higher realms.
From AccessToInsight glossary.

From the same site:

The four pairs of persons constitute the four kinds of aryan disciples who have attained the four paths and four fruits of sanctity (magga and phala), namely: sotapatti, "stream-entry"; sakadagami, "once-return"; anagami, "non-return"; and arahattha, arahantship, the fourth and the last stage at which all fetters are severed and taints rooted out.

metta

But that isnt correct I think, I ve heard of Goenkaji maximum of 7 lives to the 2 level of nirvana, after that maximum of 2 lives to the third level of nirvana, but then i lost my memory. so how is it really? someone who knows for sure?

[rowyourboat]

Hi Villorkorkarma,

Do you accept the Pali tipitaka as telling the truth or only the words of your teacher, Goenkaji? In any case Goenkaji is correct and is in line with the suttas - you might have to get hold of some of his talks on dhamma.

with metta

Matheesha

[villkorkarma]

now i dont find the video,

[Bhikkhu Pesala]

Because the Sotapatti-magga, had been attained thus, the mind continuum of the Bodhisatta was completely rid of the three defilements, namely sakkaya ditthi* Vicikiccha** and Silabbataparamasa***. These defilements would never rise again in the Bodhisatta's mind continuum.

This quote may be creating some confusion. On the night of his Enlightenment, the Bodhisatta attained all four of the Noble Paths in rapid succession. The citta of the Path moment is immediately followed by the Fruition moment, without any delay (akāliko). Then he attained the Paths of Once-returning, Non-returning, and Arahantship in rapid succession. A moment of consciousness (citta) is incredibly brief, not even a millisecond or microsecond.

After attaining each stage of the Path, an ordinary disciple of the Buddha may stay at that stage for days, weeks, months, years, or for the remainder of his/her lifespan. They can develop concentration, and learn to attain Fruition for longer and longer periods, or they can strive for the higher Paths. Or, a Stream-winner might not do either, and might return to household life and get caught up somewhat in worldly activities. However heedless they might be, they will not be reborn any more than seven times at the most.

In the case of the Bodhisatta, he had already fully developed concentration before sitting down on the eve of his Enlightenment. He had no need of further development before attaining Arahantship.