How many levels of enlightenment are there?

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Adam,

enlightenment "certain realease or insight" should not be confused with "rightly awakening".

As for rightly awakening there are generally four stages (which is not a religious definition but actuually) and it's gradual.

In regard of release, see vimutti

From what is one released?: AN 10.81
Released through awareness: AN 6.13
Four kinds of awareness-release: SN 41.7
Released through discernment: AN 9.44
Released "both ways": AN 9.45
The Buddha's question-and-answer session concerning release: Snp ch. 5

Aside of this there are 4 fruis, one could say for stages of awakening: phala, defining with their path magga the eight Noble persons ariya-puggala

Generally it's spoken about 4 stages of awakening:

Noble Ones

the Stream-winner (Sotāpanna)

the Once-Returner (Sakadāgāmi)

the Non-Returner (Anāgāmī)

the Holy One (Arahat)

(I) Through the path of Stream-winning (sotāpatti-magga) one 'becomes' free (whereas in realizing the fruition, one 'is' free) from the first 3 fetters (samyojana) which bind beings to existence in the sensuous sphere, to wit:

-- (1) personality-belief (sakkāya-ditthi; s. ditthi),

-- (2) skeptical doubt (vicikicchā),

-- (3) attachment to mere rules and rituals (sīlabbata-parāmāsa; s. upādāna).

(II) Through the path of Once-return (sakadāgāmi-magga) one becomes nearly free from the 4th and 5th fetters, to wit:

-- (4) sensuous craving (kāma-cchanda = kāma-rāga; s. rāga),

-- (5) ill-will (vyāpāda = dosa, s. mūla).

(III) Through the path of Non-return (anāgāmi-magga) one becomes fully free from the above-mentioned 5 lower fetters.

(IV) Through the path of Holiness (arahatta-magga) one further becomes free from the 5 higher fetters, to wit:

-- (6) craving for fine material existence (rūpa-rāga),

-- (7) craving for immaterial existence. (arūpa-rāga),

-- (8) conceit (māna),

-- (9) restlessness (uddhacca),

-- (10) ignorance (avijjā).

For even more about the stages of release and knowledge see:

Wisdom and the Seventy-Three Kinds of Mundane and Supramundane Knowledge, kindly given by Ven. Bhikkhu Ñāṇadassana.

Best support here for: Into the Stream - A Study Guide on the First Stage of Awakening

Much success! If not possible, the Buddha would not have teached, but a matter of effort and right deeds.

[Note: This is a gift of Dhamma, not meant for commercial purpose or other kinds of low wordily gains by means of trade and exchange]

user11235 0

Upvote:-1

4 Stages to reach Arahat is like the major milestones in traditional way using self power. Even great Zen masters can't reach Arahat. That's why most enlightened Zen masters in China turn to practice Pureland at the end of their life because they realize they cannot possibly escape Samsara in this life time. If you're a person of great capacity, any path out of 84000 will liberate you. Buddha states that in the Age of the Right Dharma, one can obtain liberation through keeping the precepts. Age of Semblance Dharma: liberation through Zen meditation. Degenerate Age: liberation through Pureland practice.