Difference in Understanding of Teachings Between A Stream-Enterer and An Arahant (First Discourse)

Monks, there are these five aggregates subject to clinging.

What five?

1. The form aggregate subject to clinging,

2. The feeling aggregate subject to clinging,

3. The perception aggregate subject to clinging,

4. The volitional formations (choices/decisions) aggregate subject to clinging,

5. The consciousness aggregate subject to clinging.

When, Monks, a Noble Disciple understands as they really are the cause and the disappearance, the gratification, the danger, and the escape in the case of these five aggregates subject to clinging.

Monks, then he is called a Noble Disciple who is a Stream-Enterer, no longer bound to the nether world, fixed in destination, with Enlightenment as his destination.

When, Monks, having understood as they really are the cause and the disappearance, the gratification, the danger, and the escape in the case of these five aggregates subject to clinging…

A Monk is liberated by non-clinging, then he is called a Monk who is an Arahant, one whose taints are destroyed, who has lived the holy life, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, reached his own goal, completely destroyed the fetters of existence, one completely liberated through final knowledge (wisdom). 

(Reference: SN 22.109–110)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares the difference in understanding of The Teachings between a Stream-Enterer and an Arahant (i.e. Enlightened being) as a First Discourse.

A Stream-Enterer understands The Five Aggregates of form, feeling, perception, volitional formations (choices/decisions), and consciousness (the mind). A Stream-Enterer will understand “the cause and disappearance” or the arising and elimination as part of Dependent Origination, “the gratification” (seeking of pleasant feelings), “the danger” (experiencing painful feelings), and “the escape in the case of the five aggregates” which is The Eight Fold Path.

“When, Monks, having understood as they really are the cause and the disappearance, the gratification, the danger, and the escape in the case of these five aggregates subject to clinging… “: An Arahant (i.e. Enlightened being) will have already understood that which a Stream-Enterer understands related to The Five Aggregates but they would be free of clinging to The Five Aggregates (liberated by non-clinging).

Cause: craving/desire/attachment

Disappearance: The Universal Truth of Impermanence

Gratification: The unEnlightened mind’s fetter/taint/pollution of “sensual desire”

Danger: The Universal Truth of Discontentedness

Escape: The Eight Fold Path

“One whose taints are destroyed”: An Arahant will have completely eliminated The Ten Fetters also described as taints or pollution of the mind.

“Who has lived the holy life, done what had to be done”: They have learned, reflected, and practiced these Teachings so closely that they are living “the holy life” and have completely trained the mind.

“Laid down the burden, reached his own goal”: The burden is craving/desire/attachment the cause of all discontentedness in the mind. If a Practitioner has “laid down the burden”, they have completely eliminated 100% of all craving/desire/attachment and have “reached his own goal” of Enlightenment or liberation of the mind experiencing freedom from strong feelings.

“Completely destroyed the fetters of existence, one completely liberated through final knowledge (wisdom)”: An Enlightened being has completely eliminated all of The Ten Fetters including “the fetters of existence” described as “desire for form” and “desire for formless”. An Enlightened being’s mind has been “completely liberated” from strong feelings experiencing “final knowledge (wisdom)” the ninth step on The Ten Fold Path described as Right Wisdom.

Desire for form (Elimination of desire for existence in the form realms; Animal or Human. Elimination of the fear of death.)

Desire for the formless (Elimination of desire for existence in the formless realms; Hell, Afflicted Spirits, or Heaven.)

There are two additional steps on The Path to Enlightenment referred to as The Ten Fold Path. The two additional steps described as part of The Ten Fold Path are not taught but instead experienced. The steps of Right Wisdom and Right Liberation are added to The Eight Fold Path to describe The Ten Fold Path.

Right Wisdom and Right Liberation do not have specific Teachings that are shared to produce these factors of The Path to Enlightenment but instead are the results of fully practicing The Eight Fold Path and all the other Teachings to attain Enlightenment.

An Enlightened being will be practicing The Ten Fold Path where they will be experiencing Right Wisdom and Right Liberation as a result of fully practicing The Eight Fold Path.

9.) Right Wisdom: is a Practitioner’s deep understanding of The Teachings and being able to communicate them with ease.

10.) Right Liberation: is that a Practitioner’s mind is fully liberated experiencing freedom from discontentedness through having eliminated The Ten Fetters.

You do not need to do anything special to focus on these two additional factors of The Path to Enlightenment but instead, they will be developed as a result of all the other training you employ.

An Enlightened being will no longer be craving/clinging to existence or craving/clinging to extermination of life. They will have completely eliminated clinging to The Five Aggregates.