The Theravada ideal of the Arhat

Pali – ArahantSanskrit – Arhat

Tibetan – dgrabcompaJapanese – RakanChinese – Lo - han

The Arhat

• This is a person in Theravada Buddhism who has extinguished all defilements (asrava) and all afflictions (klesa)

• It is the goal of the Theravada faith• At death, the Arhat enters nibbana

(nirvana) and will not be reborn again• They are known as ‘The worthy ones’

although often castigated in Mahayana for ‘treading the path alone’

The Arhat

• They might be classed as ‘worthy of respect’ because they have attained a high level of spiritual development

• An expression in the Tipitaka is ‘one who has laid down the burden’

• The figure of the Lo – han became widely popular In East Asia, particularly in Ch’an because it emphasised personal striving for liberation

The Arhat

• In Theravada Buddhism, the Buddha himself is first named as an arahat, as were his enlightened followers, since he is without greed, hatred and delusion.

• During the lifetime of the Buddha, many of his disciples became Arhats. Among them were the first five monks like Shariputra, Maudgalyayana and the Buddha’s own father, Shuddhodana.

The Arhat

• As said, the Arhat is the “Perfected one” who has overcome the impurities of desire, greed and hatred (akusala).

• At the end of the present life, he is no longer reborn.

• He is, therefore, finally freed from the suffering of existence in the cycle of birth, death and rebirth, and attains Nibbana (Nirvana).

• When a person realises that there is no lasting happiness and freedom whenever he may be reborn within the cycle, he can strive to attain Nibbana.

• The Theravada route is the way of the Arhat• This way is what we already know as the

three trainings on the Eightfold Path i.e.:- panna (prajna) – wisdom; sila (morality or good conduct) and samadhi (mental development)

The Arhat

The Arhat

• Panna – wisdom• “Like a sharpened knife that can cut easily

through a solid object, the concentrated mind is able to see things as they really are.”

• The development of insight is a gradual process, like learning to ride a bike. Wisdom is more than just knowledge, it is the application of knowledge and the motivation or intention behind our actions that is wisdom.

The Arhat

• Sila – Morality• The would be Arhat achieves purity of

the three types of action of• i) Body• ii) Speech and • iii) Mind• Observance of the Five Precepts• Perfecting the Five Wholesome Truths

or positive moral qualities.

The Arhat

• Samadhi – Mind development• There are various methods by which a

would be Arhat gradually disciplines and controls his mind

• Two of the most well known are• i) Mindfulness of the body• Ii) Mindfulness of the process of breathing• “When a would be Arhat is walking, he is

simply aware of the fact that he is walking; when a would be Arhat is sitting, he is simply aware of the fact that he is sitting.”

The Four stages of becoming an Arhat

• 1. Stream winner or enterer• 2. Once returner• 3. Non returner• 4. An Arhat

The Four stages of becoming an Arhat

• Progress on the path of the Arhat is measured by the person’s ability to weaken or eliminate the Ten Fetters (sins) which bind him to the cycle of births, deaths and rebirths and which keep him from attaining nibbana.

• There are four recognisable stages which mark his progress along the path.

The Four stages of becoming an Arhat

• The Stream winner or enterer• This is the first stage i.e. one who

has entered the “stream” that eventually leads to the “ocean of nibbana”.

• When he is at this stage, his insight is powerful enough to remove the first three fetters:-

The Four stages of becoming an Arhat

• 1. The belief in the existence of a permanent self.• 2. Doubt in the ability of the Triple Gem to lead

him towards he goal.• 3. The mistaken belief that moral rules and

ascetic rites alone are sufficient to lead a person towards enlightenment.

• N.B. On attaining this stage, the Arhat would no longer be reborn in any of the lower realms of existence (see the Tibetan Wheel of Life).

• He will also be reborn no more than seven times in the human or heavenly realms before he attains nibbana.

The Four stages of becoming an Arhat

• The Once Returner• As he makes further progress and

perfects his insight more, he reaches this second stage.

• After this, he will be reborn only once more as a human being.

• In that rebirth, he would attain nibbana.• At this stage , he has also succeeded in

weakening the fourth and fifth fetters:• 4. Attachment to sensual desire• 5.Ill will

The Four stages of becoming an Arhat

• The Non returner• This is the third stage• At this stage, he completely removes

the fourth and fifth fetters and will no longer be reborn in the human realm.

• He will be reborn in one of the pure abodes in the heavens where he will attain nibbana.

• At this stage, the first five fetters have been totally removed.

The Four stages of becoming an Arhat

• The Arhat• This is the fourth and last stage• He makes his final advance to

Arhatship – a perfect one• He attains nibbana because he has

broken the remaining five fetters which are:-

The Four stages of becoming an Arhat

6.Desire for existence in the world of forms7.Desire for existence in the formless worlds8.Conceit9.Restlessness10.Ignorance

Conclusion to the Arhat

• The career of the Arhat is like that of a student.• Development is measured by the highest stage

he has achieved so far• Each student will increase their mastery of the

subjects and skills associated with these at each stage until the highest level is achieved

• In the same way, an Arhat overcomes more and more of the fetters at each stage of his development.

• When he successful passes the fourth stage, he reaches the end of his career and is no longer subject to rebirth