The Defilements to Be Abandoned at the Third Fruition

Original Text: If one has previously abandoned the nine grades of defilements in the Desire Realm, or has previously severed the first grade of defilements in the First Dhyāna, or even fully abandoned the defilements of the Sphere of Nothingness in the Formless Realm, upon reaching this stage, it is called the third fruition-ward (Anāgāmi-phala-pratipannaka), directing one towards the third fruition. The third fruition is the non-returning fruition (Anāgāmi-phala). The numbering follows the previous explanation. 

Explanation: If, in prior cultivation, one has already abandoned the nine grades of afflictive hindrances (kleśa) of the Desire Realm, or has previously severed the first grade of afflictive hindrances of the First Dhyāna Heaven in the Form Realm, or even fully abandoned the afflictive hindrances of the Sphere of Nothingness in the Formless Realm, cultivating to this stage constitutes the third fruition-ward (Anāgāmi-phala-pratipannaka), which leads towards the third fruition. The third fruition is the non-returning fruition (Anāgāmi-phala), meaning one will not return to the human realm to cultivate the path or attain final Nirvāṇa; one directly attains the non-residual Nirvāṇa (anupadhiśeṣa-nirvāṇa) in the Five Pure Abodes (Śuddhāvāsa). The wisdom of liberation for the third fruition has many distinctions, which will be discussed later. 

The key point now is that the third fruition-ward has already abandoned all afflictive hindrances of the Desire Realm, and even severed the first grade of afflictive hindrances of the First Dhyāna in the Form Realm, thus becoming the third fruition-ward. To abandon all afflictive hindrances of the Desire Realm, relying solely on the access concentration (anāgamya-samādhi) of the Desire Realm is insufficient; one must also possess the First Dhyāna concentration of the Form Realm, and at the highest level, the concentration of the Sphere of Nothingness of the Formless Realm, to sever all volitional afflictions (bhāvanā-heya-kleśa) of the Desire Realm. 

Why does severing the volitional afflictions of the Desire Realm only constitute the third fruition-ward, and not the third fruition itself? Because afflictions must first be severed; only after the obstructions are removed can one continue to contemplate the five aggregates (skandhas) and give rise to deeper wisdom of the Path of Seeing (darśana-mārga). It is upon seeing the Path for the third fruition that one attains the third fruition. The same applies to the second fruition: the second fruition-ward (Sakṛdāgāmi-phala-pratipannaka), having severed eight grades of volitional afflictions within the access concentration, eliminates the afflictive obstructions, enabling further contemplation of the five aggregates, giving rise to the wisdom of the Path of Seeing for the second fruition, and thus attaining the second fruition. Similarly for the first fruition: within the access concentration at the ordinary person (pṛthagjana) stage, having severed five grades of volitional afflictions and eliminated coarse afflictive obstructions, one contemplates the suffering, emptiness, impermanence, and non-self of the five aggregates, obtains the initial wisdom of severing the view of self (satkāya-dṛṣṭi), and attains the first fruition (Srotāpanna). 

According to this standard of the Path of Seeing to measure, how many in the Sahā world have truly attained the Hinayāna Path of Seeing? If there is no genuine Hinayāna Path of Seeing, how can the five aggregates perish, let alone the supposedly higher Mahāyāna Path of Seeing? It turns out the streets are full of false and vain realizations of the Path. What fruition are all these self-proclaimed and others-proclaimed attainments? Considering the karmic retribution in future lives sends chills down one's spine again and again. Why are there still so many who feel no fear? It is merely foolishness and delusion (moha). They see the coffin yet shed no tears; when lying in the coffin, they cannot shed tears either, only to bleed in the three evil destinies (durgati). 

Original Text: Next, relying on the Path of Cultivation (bhāvanā-mārga), at the time of the Knowledge of the Path (mārgajñāna), distinctions among the multitude of saints are established. The verse states: Upon reaching the sixteenth mind moment, according to the three fruition-wards, dwelling in the fruition is named Faith-follower (Śraddhānusārin) and Seeing-follower (Dṛṣṭiprāpta), also distinguished by dullness and sharpness. The treatise says: The aforementioned Faith-follower (Śraddhānusārin) and Seeing-follower (Dṛṣṭiprāpta), upon reaching the sixteenth mind moment of the Knowledge of the Path, are named as dwelling in the fruition, no longer called fruition-wards. According to the previous three fruition-wards, they now dwell in the three fruitions: the previous Stream-enterer-ward (Srotāpatti-phala-pratipannaka) now dwells in the Stream-enterer fruition (Srotāpanna), the previous Once-returner-ward (Sakṛdāgāmi-phala-pratipannaka) now dwells in the Once-returner fruition (Sakṛdāgāmi), the previous Non-returner-ward (Anāgāmi-phala-pratipannaka) now dwells in the Non-returner fruition (Anāgāmi). The Arhat fruition necessarily has no initial attainment [stage]; the Path of Seeing cannot abandon cultivation-stage afflictions. 

Explanation: After the third fruition-ward, upon again relying on the Path of Cultivation to give rise to the Knowledge of the Path, distinctions among the multitude of saints appear. Upon reaching the sixteenth mind moment, dwelling in the fruition according to the three fruition-wards is named the Faith-follower (Śraddhānusārin). The Seeing-follower (Dṛṣṭiprāpta) is also distinguished by the sharpness or dullness of their faculties. The aforementioned Faith-follower and Seeing-follower, upon reaching the sixteenth mind moment of the Knowledge of the Path, are named as dwelling in the fruition, abandoning the fruition-ward status, and are no longer called fruition-wards. According to the previous Stream-enterer-ward, Once-returner-ward, and Non-returner-ward, they now dwell in the three fruitions: the previous Non-returner-ward now becomes the Non-returner. However, for attaining the Arhat fruition, there is no fruition-ward stage; there is no initial intermediate fruition leading directly to Arhatship. This is because upon seeing the Path as an Arhat, there is nothing left to cultivate or abandon; only after completing the cultivation for the previous three fruitions can one attain the fourth fruition of Arhat, becoming a non-learner (aśaikṣa). The first three fruitions are stages of learning (śaikṣa), involving learning, practice, and abandonment, while the fourth fruition is that of the non-learner, beyond learning, practice, or abandonment.