Enlightenment

What are the conditions for enlightenment?

Extract Abhidhamma in Daily Life, chapter 24.

One cannot attain enlightenment without having cultivated the right conditions. We read in the Kindred Sayings (V, Maha-vagga, Book XI, Kindred Sayings on Streamwinning, chapter I, 5, Sariputta) about four conditions for becoming a sotapanna (streamwinner). The sutta states:

Now the venerable Sariputta went to see the Exalted One, and on coming to him saluted him and sat down at one side. To the venerable Sariputta so seated the Exalted One said this: A limb of stream-winning! A limb of stream-winning! is the saying, Sariputta. Tell me, Sariputta, of what sort is a limb of stream-win. Lord, association with the upright is a limb of stream-winning. Hearing the good Dhamma is a limb of stream-winning. Applying the mind is a limb of stream-winning. Conforming to the Dhamma is a limb of stream-winning. Well said, Sariputta! Well said, Sariputta! Indeed these are limbs of stream-winning. Now again, Sariputta, they say: The stream! The stream! Of what sort is the stream, Sariputta? The stream, lord, is just this ariyan eightfold way, to wit: Right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration. Well said, Sariputta! Well said, Sariputta! The stream is just this ariyan eightfold way. Now again, Sariputta, they say, Streamwinner! Streamwinner! Of what sort is a streamwinner, Sariputta? Whosoever, lord, is blessed with this ariyan eightfold waysuch an one of such a name, of such and such a clan, is called Streamwinner.

The first condition, association with the righteous person, is most important. It would not be possible to find the right path by oneself. Only Buddhas have accumulated such wisdom that they can find the Path by themselves, without the help of a teacher. Other people, however, need the teachings of a Buddha in order to find the right path, because ignorance has been accumulated for an endlessly long time. We need association with the right person, the good friend in Dhamma, who can point out to us the right path, because our defilements prevent us from finding the right path. Our friend in Dhamma can encourage us to develop right understanding of nama and rupa.

The question may arise what one should do if one is not able to find the right friend in Dhamma. Is reading the scriptures not a condition to find the path leading to enlightenment? It is true that reading the scriptures is also very helpful since they can encourage us to be mindful of nama and rupa in daily life. We might, however, interpret the teachings in the wrong way. It depends on conditions whether we come into contact with the right person who can help us to understand the teachings as well as the practice in accordance with the teachings. Accumulated kusala kamma can be the condition for us to meet the right person.

When we have heard the Dhamma from the right person, we should apply the mind; this is the third condition. We should not blindly follow the person who teaches us Dhamma, but we should investigate the scriptures ourselves, ponder over the Dhamma, and consider it carefully, in order to test the truth.

The real test of the truth is the practice itself. Therefore, the fourth condition is conforming to the Dhamma, which is the development of the eightfold Path. By being mindful of the phenomena appearing through the six doors we can find out ourselves whether it is true that these phenomena are only nama and rupa, arising because of conditions. We can investigate ourselves whether they are impermanent or permanent, whether they are dukkha or happiness, whether they are non-self, anatta, or self. We can find out through the practice itself whether we really understand the teachings. If we practise in the wrong way we may eventually find out that this does not lead to right understanding of the realities of our daily life. Through the development of the eightfold Path we will have more confidence (saddha) in the Buddhas teachings. We will have more confidence when we experience that through right understanding of nama and rupa in daily life there will be less clinging to self.