Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra: Volume 34 (74)

Original text: It means that when encountering situations that are conducive to intense and sharp defilement bonds of the highest grade, due to a failure in mindfulness, slight and inferior defilement bonds may temporarily arise. However, one can immediately apply attention and swiftly eliminate them. After being reborn in this world only once more, one will reach the ultimate end of suffering, attain the fruit of non-returner and the characteristics of non-returner, as previously mentioned.

Explanation: When a Stream-enterer (Sotāpanna) faces situations conducive to the intense and sharp defilement bonds of the highest grade in the desire realm, slight and inferior defilement bonds may temporarily arise due to a failure in mindfulness. However, they can immediately apply attention and swiftly eliminate these defilement bonds. Thereafter, they will be reborn in this world only once more, and upon that rebirth, they will reach the ultimate end of suffering, attain the fruit of the non-returner (Anāgāmi), and possess the meritorious qualities of a non-returner, as explained earlier.

The defilements severed by the Stream-enterer upon realizing the path are the inferior-grade defilements of the desire realm, which are the coarsest among the defilements of desire-realm beings. These are the defilements possessed by humans and beings in the three lower realms; heavenly beings do not have coarse defilements but possess medium and superior-grade defilements. Humans also possess medium and superior-grade defilements. If one feels aversion towards and does not comply with the defilements of desire-realm beings, one can sever the medium and superior-grade defilements of the desire realm and attain the fruit of the Once-returner (Sakadāgāmi). Severing the inferior, medium, and superior grades of defilements in the desire realm enables one to abandon attachment to the desire realm, give rise to the first dhyāna (meditative absorption), and attain the fruit of the non-returner.

Therefore, the Stream-enterer realizes the path, while the Once-returner and non-returner begin to cultivate the path. The defilements to be severed on the path of cultivation are subtler and harder to eliminate than those severed by the Stream-enterer. Once severed, wisdom increases. The path of cultivation from Stream-enterer to Arhat (Arahant) involves severing defilements. The stages of fruition and levels of wisdom are determined by the depth of meditative absorption and the degree of defilements eliminated. Thus, the ultimate and fundamental purpose of studying the theory is to sever defilements and purify bodily, verbal, and mental actions. If one does not aim for this but merely emphasizes theoretical knowledge, it cannot be called cultivating the path.