In the Buddha's Words - Bhikkhu Bodhi [215]
Thus the elder monks were elated and delighted in the Venerable Khemaka’s statement. And while this discourse was being spoken, the minds of sixty elder monks and of the Venerable Khemaka were liberated from the taints by nonclinging.
(SN 22:89; III 126–32)
(2) The Trainee and the Arahant
At Kosambī in Ghosita’s Park the Blessed One addressed the monks thus:
“There is a method, monks, by means of which a monk who is a trainee, standing on the plane of a trainee, might understand: ‘I am a trainee,’ while a monk beyond training, standing on the plane of one beyond training, might understand: ‘I am one beyond training.’
“And what, monks, is the method by means of which a monk who is a trainee, standing on the plane of a trainee, understands: ‘I am a trainee’?
“Here, monks, a monk who is a trainee understands as it really is: ‘This is suffering. This is the origin of suffering. This is the cessation of suffering. This is the way leading to the cessation of suffering.’ This is a method by means of which a monk who is a trainee, standing on the plane of a trainee, understands: ‘I am a trainee.’
“Again, monks, a monk who is a trainee considers thus: ‘Is there outside here37 another ascetic or brahmin who teaches a Dhamma so real, true, and actual as the Blessed One does?’ He understands thus: ‘There is no other ascetic or brahmin outside here who teaches a Dhamma so real, true, and actual as the Blessed One does.’ This too is a method by means of which a monk who is a trainee, standing on the plane of a trainee, understands: ‘I am a trainee.’
“Again, monks, a monk who is a trainee understands the five spiritual faculties—the faculties of faith, energy, mindfulness, concentration, and wisdom. He does not yet dwell having contacted with the body that which is their destination, their culmination, their fruit, their final goal; but having pierced it through with wisdom, he sees.38 This too is a method by means of which a monk who is a trainee, standing on the plane of a trainee, understands: ‘I am a trainee.’
“And what, monks, is the method by means of which a monk beyond training, standing on the plane of one beyond training, understands: ‘I am one beyond training’? Here, monks, a monk beyond training understands the five spiritual faculties—the faculties of faith ... wisdom. He dwells having contacted with the body that which is their destination, their culmination, their fruit, their final goal; and having pierced it through with wisdom, he sees. This is a method by means of which a monk beyond training, standing on the plane of one beyond training, understands: ‘I am one beyond training.’
“Again, monks, a monk beyond training understands the six faculties—the eye faculty, the ear faculty, the nose faculty, the tongue faculty, the body faculty, the mind faculty. He understands: ‘These six faculties will cease completely and totally without remainder, and no other six faculties will arise anywhere in any way.’ This too is a method by means of which a monk beyond training, standing on the plane of one beyond training, understands: ‘I am one beyond training.’”
(SN 48:53: V 229–30)
(3) A Monk Whose Crossbar Has Been Lifted
30. “Monks, an arahant is called one whose crossbar has been lifted, whose trench has been filled in, whose pillar has been uprooted, one who has no bolt, a noble one whose banner is lowered, whose burden is lowered, who is unfettered.
31. “And how is the arahant one whose crossbar has been lifted? Here the arahant has abandoned ignorance, has cut it off at the root, made it like a palm stump, done away with it, so that it is no longer subject to future arising. That is how he is one whose crossbar