In the Buddha's Words - Bhikkhu Bodhi [213]
“If one does not attain final knowledge early in this very life ... or attain Nibbāna upon landing, then with the utter destruction of the five lower fetters one attains Nibbāna without volitional exertion.
“If one does not attain final knowledge early in this very life ... or attain Nibbāna without volitional exertion, then with the utter destruction of the five lower fetters one attains Nibbāna with volitional exertion.
“If one does not attain final knowledge early in this very life ... or attain Nibbāna with volitional exertion, then with the utter destruction of the five lower fetters one becomes one bound upstream, heading toward the Akaniṭṭha realm.
“When, monks, the seven factors of enlightenment have been developed and cultivated in this way, these seven fruits and benefits may be expected.”
(SN 46:3; V 69–70)
4. THE ARAHANT
(1) Removing the Residual Conceit “I Am”
On one occasion a number of elder monks were dwelling at Kosambī in Ghosita’s Park. Now on that occasion the Venerable Khemaka was living at Jujube Tree Park, sick, afflicted, gravely ill.
Then, in the evening, those elder monks emerged from seclusion and addressed the Venerable Dāsaka thus: “Come, friend Dāsaka, approach the monk Khemaka and say to him: ‘The elders say to you, friend Khemaka: We hope that you are bearing up, friend, we hope that you are getting better. We hope that your painful feelings are subsiding and not increasing, and that their subsiding, not their increase, is to be discerned.’”
“Yes, friends,” the Venerable Dāsaka replied, and he approached the Venerable Khemaka and delivered his message.
[The Venerable Khemaka answered:] “I am not bearing up, friend, I am not getting better. Strong painful feelings are increasing in me, not subsiding, and their increase, not their subsiding, is to be discerned.”
Then the Venerable Dāsaka approached the elder monks and reported what the Venerable Khemaka had said. They told him: “Come, friend Dāsaka, approach the monk Khemaka and say to him: ‘The elders say to you, friend Khemaka: These five aggregates subject to clinging have been spoken of by the Blessed One; that is, form, feeling, perception, volitional formations, and consciousness. Does the Venerable Khemaka regard anything as self or as belonging to self among these five aggregates subject to clinging?’”
“Yes, friends,” the Venerable Dāsaka replied, and he approached the Venerable Khemaka and delivered his message.
[The Venerable Khemaka replied:] “These five aggregates subject to clinging have been spoken of by the Blessed One; that is, form, feeling, perception, volitional formations, and consciousness. Among these five aggregates subject to clinging, I do not regard anything as self or as belonging to self.”
Then the Venerable Dāsaka approached the elder monks and reported what the Venerable Khemaka had said. They replied: “Come, friend Dāsaka, approach the monk Khemaka and say to him: If the Venerable Khemaka does not regard anything among these five aggregates as self or as belonging to self, then he is an arahant, one whose taints are destroyed.’”34
“Yes, friends,” the Venerable Dāsaka replied, and he approached the Venerable Khemaka and delivered his message.
[The Venerable Khemaka replied:] “These five aggregates subject to clinging have been spoken of by the Blessed One; that is, form, feeling, perception, volitional formations, and consciousness. I do not regard anything among these five aggregates subject to clinging as self or as belonging to self, yet I am not an arahant, one whose taints are destroyed. Friends, [the notion] ‘I am’ has not yet vanished in me in relation to these five aggregates subject to clinging, but I do not regard [anything among them] as ‘This I am.’”35
Then the Venerable Dāsaka approached the elder monks and reported what the Venerable Khemaka had said. They replied: “Come, friend Dāsaka, approach the monk Khemaka and say to him: ‘The elders say to you, friend Khemaka: Friend Khemaka, when you speak of this “I am”—what is it that