The Ekottara Āgama, Volume 46

There are eleven things that an Arhat does not practice. What are these eleven? An Arhat with outflows exhausted will never abandon the monastic robes to engage in laypeople’s affairs. An Arhat with outflows exhausted will never engage in impure conduct. An Arhat with outflows exhausted will never kill any living being. An Arhat with outflows exhausted will never steal. An Arhat with outflows exhausted will never leave leftover food when eating. An Arhat with outflows exhausted will never speak falsely. An Arhat with outflows exhausted will never form factions or act as a group leader. An Arhat with outflows exhausted will never utter harsh words. An Arhat with outflows exhausted will never harbor doubts. An Arhat with outflows exhausted will never feel fear. An Arhat with outflows exhausted will never follow another teacher, nor will they enter a womb again. Noble ones, this is said to be the eleven states in which an Arhat with outflows exhausted will never abide.

Explanation: There are eleven things that an Arhat no longer commits. What are these eleven? First, an Arhat whose defilements are completely exhausted will never discard the monastic robes to engage in worldly affairs as a layperson. Second, an Arhat whose defilements are exhausted will never again have impure desire for the opposite sex. Third, an Arhat whose defilements are exhausted will never again kill any living being. Fourth, an Arhat whose defilements are exhausted will never again steal. Fifth, when eating, an Arhat whose defilements are exhausted will never leave any leftover food. Sixth, an Arhat whose defilements are exhausted will never again speak falsely. Seventh, an Arhat whose defilements are exhausted will never form cliques or act as a group leader. They differ from worldly sentiments, preferring solitude over forming alliances for mutual support, having no personal desires or intentions. Eighth, an Arhat whose defilements are exhausted will never utter malicious words. Ninth, an Arhat whose defilements are exhausted will never harbor doubts about the Dharma. Tenth, an Arhat whose defilements are exhausted will never again experience fear. Eleventh, an Arhat whose defilements are exhausted is a saint of the Śrāvaka vehicle who has nothing more to learn; they need not follow others to practice the path to liberation from birth and death, nor will they be reborn in a womb again. Noble ones, this is called the eleven states in which an Arhat with outflows exhausted will never abide.

If an Arhat engages in even the slightest worldly matter, with their mind attached to worldly affairs even a little, they are not an Arhat. Therefore, all Arhats are monastics and cannot live as householders even for a day. If they return to lay life, they immediately become a third-fruit practitioner. However, they cannot endure worldly life for more than three months; they will grow weary and then renounce again, once more attaining the fourth fruit of Arhatship.

Even if an Arhat reverts to lay life, they are only wisdom-liberated Arhats whose meditative concentration is not particularly strong. Arhats liberated in both aspects will never entertain the thought of returning to lay life, as they cannot tolerate even the slightest worldly matter.

If a Mahāyāna Bodhisattva attains the third or fourth fruit, they also do not wish to live amidst worldly affairs or engage in worldly matters. Even if countless treasures are available for them to take, they refuse to trouble their minds over them. Being among sentient beings to liberate them is unavoidable; even when among them, their minds remain detached. Even when funds are needed for propagating the Dharma, they refuse to scheme for money or accommodate unwholesome and worldly methods.