Characteristics of the Once-Returner and Non-Returner

Lankavatara Sutra Original Text: Mahamati, what is the characteristic of a Sakadagami? It refers to instantly illuminating the mental projections of bodily forms, whereby the notion of arising and the appearance of phenomena cease to manifest. Due to skillfully perceiving the characteristics and inclinations of meditative states, one abruptly returns to this world, exhausts the limit of suffering, and attains Nirvana. Therefore, it is called Sakadagami. Mahamati, what is an Anagami? It refers to realizing that the bodily forms of past, future, and present lack intrinsic nature. By seeing the faults inherent in the notion of arising, mental projections cease to occur. Consequently, with the severance of fetters, it is called Anagami.

Explanation: The Buddha said, Mahamati, what is the characteristic of the second fruition, Sakadagami? When interacting with others, a Sakadagami instantly sees through the bodily forms of self and others, harboring no illusions about the physical body. They know it is unarisen, lacking true birth, characterized by suffering, emptiness, impermanence, and non-self. They perceive phenomena directly upon seeing them, without relying on conscious thought. The seventh consciousness (manas) knows this at the first fruition (Srotapanna), and through further cultivation reaching the second fruition, this knowing becomes deeper and more penetrating. Sakadagamis are skilled in observing the characteristics and inclinations of meditative absorption (dhyana). After passing away, they are reborn in a heavenly realm, and then return directly from there to the human world to exhaust the limit of suffering and attain the state of Nirvana without residue. Therefore, they are called Sakadagami.

Mahamati, what is the characteristic of the third fruition, Anagami? Anagamis know that the bodily forms of past, future, and present lack intrinsic nature. They perceive the faults inherent in the arising of the physical body and the faults of mentally projecting the physical body as 'self' or 'mine'. They harbor no illusions about bodily forms. Moreover, through the power of the first dhyana, they eradicate all manifest afflictions of greed and hatred. Therefore, they are called the third fruition, Anagami.