Without Having Abandoned Selfishness One Is Incapable of Realizing the Fruit of Arahantship

Monks, without having abandoned these five things, one is incapable of entering and residing in the first Jhāna ... in the second Jhāna ... the third Jhāna … the fourth Jhāna … one is incapable of realizing the fruit of Stream-Enterer ... the fruit of Once-Returner … the fruit of Non-Returner ... the fruit of Arahantship.

What five?

Selfishness with regard to dwellings, selfishness with regard to families, selfishness with regard to material possessions, selfishness with regard to praise, and selfishness with regard to The Teachings.

Monks, having abandoned these five things, one is capable of entering and residing in the first Jhāna ... the second Jhāna ... the third Jhāna … the fourth Jhāna … one is capable of realizing the fruit of Stream-Enterer … the fruit of Once-Returner … the fruit of Non-Returner … the fruit of Arahantship.

What five?

Selfishness with regard to dwellings, selfishness with regard to families, selfishness with regard to material possessions, selfishness with regard to praise, and selfishness with regard to The Teachings.

Having abandoned these five things, one is capable of realizing the fruit of Arahantship.

(Reference: AN 5.256)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how a Practitioner would be unable to attain Enlightenment without eliminating selfishness.

1.) Eliminating selfishness in regards to one’s dwellings is to be willing to share one’s home with others. A Practitioner will need to train the mind to be comfortable with guests and hosting guests in their home from time-to-time. If the mind is holding on to one’s home, there is craving/desire/attachment in the mind and selfishness, therefore, one could not attain Enlightenment.

2.) Eliminating selfishness in regards to one’s family is to be willing to share with one’s family.

3.) Eliminating selfishness in regards to one’s material possessions is to be willing to share with others anything that you have acquired. If one is unwilling to share material possessions with others, there is craving/desire/attachment in the mind and selfishness, therefore, one could not attain Enlightenment.

4.) Eliminating selfishness in regards to one’s praise is to be willing to share polite, kind, friendly, and respectful words to highlight others accomplishments and successes. If one is unwilling to openly praise others, then the mind is not completely free and liberated from its own craving/desire/attachment. The mind may have jealousy or other unwholesome mental qualities that will inhibit it from harmonious relationships with all beings.

5.) Eliminating selfishness in regards to The Teachings is to be willing to share these Teachings with others, as they seek understanding of The Teachings. If one is unwilling to share these Teachings when asked questions, the Practitioner has not yet fully filled the mind with loving-kindness and compassion for all beings. The mind may have craving/desire/attachment to these Teachings and is unwilling to patiently share them upon request. If one is unwilling to share these Teachings with others when asked, there is craving/desire/attachment in the mind and selfishness, therefore, one could not attain Enlightenment.

“Having abandoned these five things, one is capable of realizing the fruit of Arahantship” is The Buddha explaining that these five things need to be eliminated from the mind to attain Enlightenment. Arahantship is the fourth Stage of Enlightenment. An Arahant or one who has attained Arahantship is Enlightened.

A Practitioner experiencing the Jhānas (i.e. the four (4) preliminary phases the mind experiences prior to the first Stage of Enlightenment) or the first, second, or third Stage of Enlightenment is not yet Enlightened. The mind will still be experiencing discontentedness and not yet Enlightened. It is only once a Practitioner eliminates 100% of the stain of selfishness from the mind and cultivates other wholesome qualities while eliminating unwholesome qualities, that they will experience Enlightenment.