..续本文上一页ne is now freed from them and can breathe with ease.

　　Such people have received a treasure: They have attained transcendent discernment and seen for sure the opening onto nibbana. They are like a traveler who has seen a palace of gold in the distance: Although he hasn”t yet reached it, he is bound to think of it at all times. Stream-winners have already gone three leagues (yojana) on the way, with only seven leagues left to go. Whoever has the chance to see or know such people, help them, or associate with them, is truly fortunate.

　　There are three classes of stream-winner: ekabijin,those who will be reborn only once more; kolankola, those who will be reborn three or four more times; and sattakkhattu-parama, those who will be reborn seven more times.

　　Why are there three

　　 Because the natural propensities of each inpidual determine the way he or she pursues the path. The first group is comprised of those with a propensity to anger and irritation. They tend to develop insight meditation more than tranquillity meditation, reaching Awakening quickly with few of the mundane skills or powers. The second group is comprised of those with a propensity to passion and desire. This group develops insight and tranquillity in equal measure, reaching Awakening at a moderate rate, along with a moderate number of mundane powers and skills. The third group consists of those with a propensity to delusion. They tend to develop tranquillity in large measure, with very strong powers in the direction of jhana, before going on to develop insight meditation. They attain Awakening along with a large number of powers and skills. When they reach the transcendent level, they tend to have mastered the three skills, the six forms of intuitive power (abhiñña), and the four forms of acumen.

　　But if these three propensities exist in everyone, why do we now assign them to different inpiduals

　　 Because the moment you are about to know the truth, you focus on the good and bad features of a particular mental state and attain Awakening then and there. In some cases the state is passion, in some cases anger, and in some cases delusion. Once you have focused on knowing a particular state and know its truth for what it is, then that truth will place you in a particular class.

　　Those who reach this stage are headed straight for the higher paths and fruitions culminating in nibbana. People who have attained stream-entry have their virtue completely developed. They don”t have to worry about virtue any longer. They no longer have to look out for their virtues, for they”ve been a slave to virtue long enough. From now on the quality of their virtue will look out for them, safeguarding them from the four realms of deprivation. What this means is that their vices have been tamed, and so they no longer have to worry about keeping them in line. They still have to work at concentration and discernment, though. They”ve wiped out the cruder forms of unwise behavior, but the medium and subtle forms — which are to be wiped out by higher paths, beginning with the path to once-returning — still remain.

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