Layman Arahant

[Sanghamitta]

mind is the Buddha

A swing and a miss - strike one. No balls - one strike.

Laymen are Buddhas

Foul tip off the end of the bat - strike two. No balls - two strikes.

Unless they see their nature

Ump calls strike three - he's outta there!

As a practicing Theravadin this line of thinking is very inspirational to me and my practice.

Metta - (no one loves you more than i do bodom!)

Brilliant...

[bodom]

mind is the Buddha

A swing and a miss - strike one. No balls - one strike.

Laymen are Buddhas

Foul tip off the end of the bat - strike two. No balls - two strikes.

Unless they see their nature

Ump calls strike three - he's outta there!

As a practicing Theravadin this line of thinking is very inspirational to me and my practice.

Metta - (no one loves you more than i do bodom!)

Oh so ya wanna play hard ball do ya?

Well I guess I will have to return the book and never read Bodhidharma again. Thanks alot Anicca!

I knew I would probably take some slack for that but hey what the heck.

[Zom]

This sutta is interesting on this topic. Here Buddha says that there are numerous bhukkhu arahants, numerous bhikkhuni arahants, and then - numerous layman anagamis (and so on). No mention about layman arahants..

http://www.buddhanet.net/budsas/ebud/ma ... tta-e1.htm

[PeterB]

So Bodom, this Red Pine person, is he by any chance related to Pinicchio ?

[bodom]

So Bodom, this Red Pine person, is he by any chance related to Pinicchio ?

Haha very funny Peter lol. His real name is Bill Porter. Red Pine is his pen name. He is actually an acclaimed translator and interpreter of Chinesese Buddhist texts.

[PeterB]

Has he formed a splinter group ?

[fabianfred]

My present teacher, a Thai lady, mother and housewife, I and many followers consider to be arahant.
Since she is female the chance to ordain is not an option....what then ????

[salmon]

Can it be possible that one becomes a bhikkhu in the mind (ie. lives like a bhikkhu) and not that one has to go through the ordination ceremony? I mean...isn't the physical ceremony itself a FORM?

[Anicca]

My present teacher, a Thai lady, mother and housewife, I and many followers consider to be arahant.
Since she is female the chance to ordain is not an option....what then ????

If in your mind you see her as an Arahant - in your mind, see her wearing the robes!

[mud]

If a layperson were to become an arahant, then how would they live their daily life? They would have no desire to do anything. I imagine all they would do is teach dhamma, why would they not ordain? It seems like it would be the most effective use of the rest of their time.

[Zom]

How to test if someone is arahant:

http://www.buddhanet.net/budsas/ebud/ma ... hana-e.htm

[tiltbillings]

If a layperson were to become an arahant, then how would they live their daily life? They would have no desire to do anything. I imagine all they would do is teach dhamma, why would they not ordain? It seems like it would be the most effective use of the rest of their time.

If they had no desire to do anything, then why would they have a desire to ordain or to teach?

[fabianfred]

David, my reply was aimed at Bodom's assertion that there are no arahants without the Buddhasasana.

And is the Pali canon (like the bible and the koran) unimpeachable?
Don't surrender your own moral autority please.

The Pali canon is likely the only text to which you could surrender your moral authority and still be an exemplar person. But that's not what people are advocating, I don't think. But certain truths do have to be understood in order for Arahantship to be attained, and those truths are currently embodied in the canon. Not all parts of the canon are as essential as the other parts, but the essential truths are in there.

The Buddha was asked if other teachers teaching might enable one to reach nirvana....and he replied, yes....if those teachings contained the Noble Eightfold path and Four Noble truths.
I suspect no others do.....

[Virgo]

My present teacher, a Thai lady, mother and housewife, I and many followers consider to be arahant.
Since she is female the chance to ordain is not an option....what then ????

So she has absolutely no defilements?

Kevoin

[tiltbillings]

My present teacher, a Thai lady, mother and housewife, I and many followers consider to be arahant.
Since she is female the chance to ordain is not an option....what then ????

So she has absolutely no defilements?

Kevoin

And we are, Kevoin, to judge upon what basis?

[Virgo]

My present teacher, a Thai lady, mother and housewife, I and many followers consider to be arahant.
Since she is female the chance to ordain is not an option....what then ????

So she has absolutely no defilements?

Kevoin

And we are, Kevoin, to judge upon what basis?

For one, an Arahant can never experience a moment of restlessness. Nor will they ever get upset about anything-- stepping in a puddle of mud, getting hit, etc.

Those are some things to look out for.

A sotapanna on the other hand Tilt... well, you know.

Take care,
Kevin

[tiltbillings]

For one, an Arahant can never experience a moment of restlessness. Nor will they ever get upset about anything-- stepping in a puddle of mud, getting hit, etc.

Those are some things to look out for.

A sotapanna on the other hand Tilt... well, you know.

Ah, yes, the good old step in a puddle test for the supposed arahant. And then, of course, there is the if-you-say-you-are-you-aren't test for the sotapanna.

[lojong1]

How to test if someone is arahant:
http://www.buddhanet.net/budsas/ebud/ma ... hana-e.htm

"Bhikkhus, [if the bhikkhu who declares perfection answers thus,] his words should be accepted as good words and he should be told. ‘Friend, it is great gain, that we meet co-associates like you.’"
HILARIOUS
"You're an Arahant, eh? Pleased to meet you. Now if you'll excuse me, there are these roots of trees..."

[Virgo]

For one, an Arahant can never experience a moment of restlessness. Nor will they ever get upset about anything-- stepping in a puddle of mud, getting hit, etc.

Those are some things to look out for.

A sotapanna on the other hand Tilt... well, you know.

And then, of course, there is the if-you-say-you-are-you-aren't test for the sotapanna.

Hi Tilt,

If that were derived from the texts there wouldn't be a problem with it. The problem is, however, that many sotapannas announced their attainments to others in the texts.

Have a nice day,

Kevin

[tiltbillings]

For one, an Arahant can never experience a moment of restlessness. Nor will they ever get upset about anything-- stepping in a puddle of mud, getting hit, etc.

Those are some things to look out for.

A sotapanna on the other hand Tilt... well, you know.

And then, of course, there is the if-you-say-you-are-you-aren't test for the sotapanna.

Hi Tilt,

If that were derived from the texts there wouldn't be a problem with it. The problem is, however, that many sotapannas announced their attainments to others in the texts.

There is a massive difference between the texts, where there is the Buddha who can correct such a claim, if needs be, and someone, on an internet forum, declaring of himself "I am a sotapanna" or whatever level of ariya the individual might imagine of himself. Does it need to be spelled out?