Expert: Anandapanyo Bhikkhu - 9/8/2010

Question
Is Sottapatti-hood (i.e., Sottapan-hood, Sottapatti Enlightenment)achievable (to a Buddhist practitioner) in this era?

What are the qualities of a Sottapan person?

How can one confirm himself/herself whether he/she has really attained sottapatti enlightenment?

Answer
Dear Myo,

Thank you for the opportunity to answer your questions.

"Is Sottapatti-hood (i.e., Sottapan-hood, Sottapatti Enlightenment)achievable (to a Buddhist practitioner) in this era?"

Sottapatti-hood, or Sotapanna, or "Stream-Enterer", or in fact, any level of enlightenment is achievable to a practitioner in this life if they have THREE characteristics:

1. Enough Parami ( Perfections of Character developed over every life)
2. Enough Determination (That is, they put forth enough effort)
3. Samma-ditthi (The most important, it means the right view - in this case, it is the right methods)

If someone has enough paramai (giving, compassion, truthfulness, tolerance, equanimity...) cultivated and they try hard and put fort effort and have not resulted in any level of enlightenment, then most likely, they have not followed the right path.

Lucky for us, Parami can sometimes be built in this lifetime. We can use dana (giving), panna (wisdom) or one of the other 8 parami's. For example, if someone gave a big gift to the Buddha or ariya Sangha, that could help fill his/her parami to a certain level.

Determination can also be built up this life. If we teach ourselves not to be lazy, and too work continuously towards a goal, we might be able to fill this prerequisite.

Samma-ditthi is the most important one. It is the one thing that is keeping people from becoming enlightened. If you are on the wrong road...no matter how hard you try, or how much parami you have...you will NEVER reach your destination. Samma-ditthi is the changing of wrong perceptions to right perceptions.

This is why the Buddha said that choosing a teaching is very important part of our practice. With wrong teachings, we cannot reach our goals.

So, if anyone has these three qualities, they can become enlightened in this lifetime.

"What are the qualities of a Sottapan person?"

A Sottanpanna will have these three qualities:

1. No doubt in the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha. Knowledge of the existence of karma, heaven and hell. No more belief in trivial things such as angels, horoscopes, magic....

2. No more breaking of the 5 precepts. This is automatic.

3. Right View. They will see and know that this body of ours is not really ours. It is merely a loaner, a rental that we use temporarily and will eventually discard. They will know that there is no US or SELF in this physical form.

A Sotapanna will have eliminated all greed for physical forms. They will have realized that all physical forms are merely temporary and not able to be held on to or controlled.

"How can one confirm himself/herself whether he/she has really attained sottapatti enlightenment?"

I will respond with a question of my own:

How can one know when one is hungry? How will one know when one is full? How will one know when one is in love? How will you know when you hate someone? How will you know when you are full?

These are all things that we know...ON OUR OWN. Once we know...we just know. There are no signs, no warnings...we just know.

Once one becomes a Sottapanna, they will not have to ask anyone. They will not have to have anyone confirm this for them. They will just know.

I hope I have answered your questions.

Sincerely,

Phra Anandapanyo