Defilements to Be Abandoned Upon Stream-Entry

Abhidharmakośa-bhāṣya, Volume 23, Original Text: Due to the differences in the complete severance of afflictions to be abandoned by cultivation, they are established as three orientations. It refers to those two sages. If, prior to this, they have not severed the afflictions to be abandoned by cultivation through the mundane path, they are called "fully bound."

Explanation: Practitioners of the path to liberation, because the afflictions and delusions they should sever during cultivation vary greatly, are established as having three fruition orientations for those who sever the karmic afflictions and delusions: the first fruition orientation, the second fruition orientation, and the third and fourth fruition orientation. The two types of sages—the slow-facultied faith-follower (śraddhānusārin) and the sharp-facultied dharma-follower (dharmānusārin)—if they have not previously severed the afflictions and delusions to be abandoned by cultivation within the wholesome dharmas of the mundane path, such a person is an ordinary being fully endowed with all afflictions.

This means that the path of cultivation begins with ordinary beings. Ordinary beings must also sever the corresponding afflictions and delusions. Every ordinary sentient being must undergo various stages of the cultivation path. Initially, they certainly cultivate mundane dharmas, abandoning evil and cultivating good within mundane dharmas. The content of their cultivation is the Four Right Efforts (samyakpradhāna). If the Four Right Efforts are not fully cultivated, they cannot sever the afflictions and delusions; they remain ordinary beings fully bound by fetters. Before attaining the Path of Seeing (darśana-mārga), ordinary beings primarily cultivate the Thirty-Seven Aids to Enlightenment (bodhipākṣikā dharmaḥ). The Thirty-Seven Aids include the Seven Factors of Enlightenment (sapta-bodhyanga) and the Noble Eightfold Path (āryāṣṭāṅgika-mārga). Among the Seven Factors of Enlightenment is the enlightenment factor of concentration (samādhi-sambodhyanga). When the enlightenment factor of concentration is perfected, it subdues and severs the lower and middling grades of afflictions in the desire realm.

The Noble Eightfold Path also includes right concentration (samyak-samādhi). After right concentration is perfected, it also subdues and severs the lower grades of afflictions in the desire realm. When the Thirty-Seven Aids to Enlightenment are fully cultivated, precepts (śīla), concentration (samādhi), and wisdom (prajñā) will be perfected. Only then are the conditions for attaining the Path of Seeing complete, and upon encountering the causes and conditions, they can attain the purity of the Dharma-eye (dharmacakṣu-viśuddhi) and realize the first fruition (srotāpatti-phala). If these conditions for cultivation are not complete, the causes and conditions will also not be complete, and it is then impossible to attain the Path of Seeing. Many people claim to have attained the Path of Seeing and realized the first fruition while bypassing this stage of cultivation; this is merely a mistaken understanding of the Path of Seeing and amounts to gross false speech (mahā-mṛṣāvāda).

Abhidharmakośa Original Text: Or, if one has previously severed the first grade up to the fifth grade of afflictions in the desire realm, upon reaching this stage, one is called the "first fruition orientation" (srotāpatti-phala-pratipannaka), because one is oriented towards the first fruition. The term "first fruition" (srotāpatti-phala) refers to the Stream-enterer Fruition. Among all the fruits of śramaṇa practice, this is necessarily the first attained.

Explanation: Among practitioners of the path to liberation, some have previously severed the first to fifth grades of afflictions and delusions in the desire realm. At this point, one can say this person is a "first fruition orientation," because they are oriented towards the first fruition, hence called "first fruition orientation." They will soon realize the purity of the Dharma-eye and attain the first fruition. The first fruition is also called the Stream-enterer Fruition (srotāpatti-phala). Among all the fruits attained by śramaṇa practitioners, this is necessarily the first fruition attained.

The first fruition orientation severs the five grades of afflictions and delusions in the desire realm, after which they can realize the first fruition. This means that even while still in the ordinary being stage as a first fruition orientation, one must sever the five grades of afflictions and delusions in the desire realm. By what means can an ordinary being sever five grades of afflictions? As stated above, during the cultivation process, ordinary beings cultivate the Thirty-Seven Aids to Enlightenment, abandon evil, and cultivate good. Cultivating good severs evil; severing evil means severing the five grades of afflictions in the desire realm. However, if one only cultivates good without attaining the preliminary concentration (anāgamya-samādhi) of the desire realm, or if the preliminary concentration is insufficient, one cannot sever the five grades of afflictions and cannot become a first fruition orientation practitioner. Cultivating the preliminary concentration is the enlightenment factor of concentration within the Seven Factors of Enlightenment; it is right concentration within the Noble Eightfold Path. If the preliminary concentration of the desire realm is insufficient, right concentration is not perfected, the cultivation of the Noble Eightfold Path is incomplete, and there is no true path to speak of.

Therefore, the claim by some that attaining the first or second fruition upon seeing the Path (darśana-mārga) does not require meditative concentration (dhyāna), does not require the preliminary concentration, or even that one can attain fruition without cultivating concentration, seriously contradicts the principles of the Seven Factors of Enlightenment and the Noble Eightfold Path. It violates the true principle of attaining fruition, and furthermore contradicts the teachings of the World-Honored One (Bhagavān), Maitreya Bodhisattva, and all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Such claims of attaining fruition have no basis in fact or reality, belittle the cultivation and realization of the Dharma, and demonstrate that the claimant has not undergone the actual cultivation stages of the Thirty-Seven Aids to Enlightenment. Their approach to practice is rather blind and based largely on conjecture. In the Dharma-ending Age (saddharma-vipralopa), many so-called "good knowing advisors" (kalyāṇamitra) are indeed only adept at collecting and disseminating knowledge; they do not understand the principles of cultivation and realization.