Sotapanna 8 precepts

[Zachary]

Hi all,

Can a sotapanna be on 8 precepts for the rest of his life? And can he do this easily? Can someone who hasn’t attain the stream be on 8 precepts for the rest of his life?

Thanks Zachary

[SDC]

According to accounts in the suttas, it is not a guarantee that the sotapanna will take the eight precepts. For the ordinary person, it depends on why they are taking up the eight precepts? Are they doing to change the lifestyle and develop a basis for effort? Or are they doing it just to accumulate time following the precepts?

[Ontheway]

Both Puthujjana and Sotapanna can take 8 precepts. No restriction. Just depends on personal effort and determination. I also take 8 precepts whenever I got opportunity (uposatha day, off day, weekend, no urgent meetings or projects) ...

But Pancasila is a must for all Puthujjana to declare themselves as virtuous Upasaka or Upasika. And for Sotapanna, Pancasila is already part of their lifestyle.

[santa100]

Can a sotapanna be on 8 precepts for the rest of his life? And can he do this easily? Can someone who hasn’t attain the stream be on 8 precepts for the rest of his life?

Yes, as per AN 9.12:

“Again, some person fulfills virtuous behavior but cultivates concentration and wisdom only to a moderate extent. With the utter destruction of three fetters, this person is a seventimes-at-most attainer who, after roaming and wandering on among devas and humans seven times at most, makes an end of suffering. This is the ninth person, passing away with a residue remaining, who is freed from hell, the animal realm, and the sphere of afflicted spirits; freed from the plane of misery, the bad destination, the lower world.

So whether s/he fulfills virtuous behavior at the five-precept level, eight-precept level, or even higher doesn't matter, as long as s/he cultivates concentration and wisdom only to a moderate extent, s/he can only reach the Sotapanna level.