Factors for Stream Entry (First Discourse)

Then the Venerable Sāriputta approached The Perfectly Enlightened One, paid homage (respect) to him, and sat down to one side. The Perfectly Enlightened One then said to him:

Sāriputta, this is said: A factor for Stream-Entry, a factor for Stream-Entry. 

What now, Sāriputta, is a factor for Stream-Entry?

1. Association with wholesome persons, Venerable Sir, is a factor for Stream-Entry.

2. Hearing the true Teachings is a factor for Stream-Entry.

3. Careful attention is a factor for Stream-Entry.

4. Practice in accordance with The Teachings is a factor for Stream-Entry.

Good, good, Sāriputta! Association with wholesome persons, Sāriputta, is a factor for Stream-Entry. Hearing the true Teachings is a factor for Stream-Entry. Careful attention is a factor for Stream-Entry. Practice in accordance with The Teachings is a factor for Stream-Entry. 

(Reference: SN 55.5)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares additional factors for attaining the first Stage of Enlightenment as a Stream-Enterer.

(1) The Buddha shares in multiple Teachings how developing wholesome friendships, companionships, and comradeship “is the entire holy life”. He prioritizes developing wholesome relationships with people who are into wholesomeness as one’s mind will more likely be interested in practicing these wholesome Teachings when you choose to be involved with wholesome friends and associates.

The opposite is also true that if you choose to associate with unwholesome friends and associates, you will more likely be interested in making decisions that are unwholesome leading to unwholesome results in your life.

(2) In order to attain any results on this path, surely the results of the first Stage of Enlightenment and beyond, a Practitioner would need to “hear the true Teachings”. Without access to “the true Teachings” a Practitioner would have no ability to learn, reflect, and practice these Teachings to improve the condition of the mind.

From the lifetime of The Buddha over 2,500 years ago, there has been a massive amount of impermanence that has affected what people feel they know about The Buddha’s Teachings and our access to those Teachings in the world. Today, there are countless perspectives, opinions, and views about what The Teachings are and are not.

It is only when one comes into direct contact with The Words of The Buddha that a Practitioner can deeply understand and practice his Teachings to discover the truth acquiring wisdom to improve the condition of one’s mind and life. The way a Practitioner knows they are learning and practicing ‘the true Teachings’ is that they will be able to independently observe the truth in The Teachings not based on belief or superstition and The Teachings they are learning and practicing are leading to an improved condition of the mind.

Discontentedness such as anger, frustration, irritation, annoyance, guilt, shame, fear, sadness, stress, anxiety, etc. will all be gradually eliminated from the mind. Situations that once produced discontentedness in the mind, the Practitioner no longer experiences the same results. Instead, the mind can remain peaceful, calm, serene, and content with joy in situations that once produced significant discontentedness. The benefits of the mind moving towards Enlightenment are observable for each individual Practitioner through an improved condition of the mind and one’s life.

(3) A Practitioner who has attained the first Stage of Enlightenment will have developed the ability to focus their attention carefully on any given task or in any given situation. The mind will not wander or drift into daydreams or be otherwise distracted by various thoughts or occurrences in life. Instead, the mind will be developing careful attention with focus, concentration, memory, and clarity of thought and mind. These benefits only increase as the mind gets closer to Enlightenment and once the mind is Enlightened, these benefits will continue to increase.

A Practitioner who is practicing “careful attention” will have determination, dedication, and diligence to continue progressing towards the ultimate goal of Enlightenment while never giving up.

(4) A Stream-Enterer will have eliminated the fetter/taint/pollution of mind described as “wrong behavior and observances” which includes a well developed practice of The Eight Fold Path. A Practitioner who has attained the first Stage of Enlightenment as a Stream-Enterer will be “practicing in accordance with The Teachings” shared in The Eight Fold Path.

Wrong behavior and observances (Elimination of the mind’s belief that rites, rituals, ceremonies, and worship will help a Practitioner to attain Enlightenment. Well developed practice of The Eight Fold Path.)

Detailed explanation of The Eight Fold Path is available in this same book series found in Chapter 5 of the book “Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads to Enlightenment” (Volume 1).