Benefit When Taints Are Abandoned

Monks, when for a Monk the taints that should be abandoned by restraining have been abandoned by restraining…when the taints that should be abandoned by removing have been abandoned by removing…

Then he is called a Monk who resides restrained with the restraint of all the taints. He has severed craving, flung off the fetters, and with the complete elimination of conceit he has made an end of discontentedness.

(Reference: MN 2)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how a Practitioner who has eliminated The Ten Fetters will have attained Enlightenment no longer experiencing any discontentedness.

“Severed craving” is to have eliminated all craving/desire/attachment from the mind. There will be no more longing with a strong eagerness for the objects of your affection.

“Flung off the fetters” is describing the elimination of all of The Ten Fetters.

“Elimination of conceit” is to eliminate the fetter/taint/pollution of mind described as conceit.

“Made an end of discontentedness” is the result of attaining Enlightenment. The mind will no longer experience any discontentedness.

To accomplish these goals, a Practitioner will need to train the mind to have restrain of The Six Sense Bases and remove The Ten Fetters from the mind.

What are the advantages of attaining Enlightenment?

There are significant benefits that one will experience through the pursuit and attainment of Enlightenment such as:

• Increased and high degree of focus

• Increased and high degree of concentration

• Improved and high degree of memory

• Clarity of thought and mind

An Enlightened being will no longer experience any discontent feelings such as sadness, anger, frustration, irritation, annoyance, guilt, shame, fears, boredom, loneliness, shyness, jealousy, resentment, stress, anxiety, etc.

An Enlightened being will have deep wisdom in which to conduct daily life. They do not argue, fight, or have any hostility.

They are polite, kind, friendly, respectful, calm, caring, etc. They deeply understand what causes harm in the world and, thus, do not cause any harm through their intentions, speech, actions, or livelihood so no harm comes to them.

An Enlightened being can create healthy personal and professional relationships with ease.

Because of these benefits and others, their mind and their life are peaceful, calm, serene, and content with joy for the remaining time of their life, their last life.

Enlightenment is a permanent mental state.