Aṅguttara Nikāya
Chakka Nipāta
Paṇṇāsakāsaṅgahitā Vaggā
Vaggāsaṅgahitā suttantā
Suttas 131-151
[PTS Pāḷi #119-120]
(PTS GS III: 131-151)
The Numbers Bag
The Book of Sixes
Seers of the Deathless
Translated by Michael M. Olds
Introduction:
The topic of whether or not it is possible for a layman to attain arahantship is a subject of debate going way back. As far as I can tell the doubt begins after the compilation of the suttas; I can't find anything in the suttas to indicate that there is any reason to think that it is impossible. The selection below would indicate that it was undoubtedly possible, but there is some doubt about the authority of the passage. Anāthapiṇḍika, for one, is pretty clearly stated to have become a Non-Returner elsewhere (citation missing of course). Does this mean that the meaning of "seeing the deathless, going on to realization of the deathless" should be taken to mean the state of Non-Returner? This in turn is complicated by the definition of Arahant (as well as the other stages) as including those "on the way to attainment of ..."
Why is this important? For motivation. There are a few out there I know of who are really going at this system full tilt. They live alone, don't work, are celibate or are working on celibacy, eat one meal a day or very moderately, and meditate. Like the Karate Master who, wanting to make his punch really powerful, envisions not only hitting the target, but penetrating the target, the meditator needs to be able to see that he can really attain the goal if he works at it.
Personally, I think it can be done. The very weakest take on this collection of little suttas would say that there was no question that the layman was able to attain Non-Returning, meaning, in this case the sort of non-returner who attains the deathless upon death, or just after death, or in any case before taking birth in a new individuality.
Tapussa Sutta
[119.1][pts] "Having mastered six things, beggars,
the housefather Tapusso,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the Dhamma,
undoubting faith in the Saṅgha,
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Tapusso,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Bhallika
[120.1][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus,
the housefather Bhallika,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṅgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Bhallika,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Sudatta Anāthapiṇḍika
[120.2][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus,
the housefather Sudatta Anāthapiṇḍika,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṅgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Sudatta Anāthapiṇḍika,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Citta Macchikāsaṇḍika
[120.3][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus, the housefather Citta Macchikāsaṇḍika,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṅgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Citta Macchikāsaṇḍika,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Hatthaka Āḷavaka
[120.4][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus, the housefather Hatthaka Āḷavaka,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṅgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Hatthaka Āḷavaka,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Mahānāma Sakka
[120.5][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus, the housefather Mahānāma Sakka,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṅgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Mahānāma Sakka,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Ugga Vesālika
[120.6][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus, the housefather Ugga Vesālika,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṅgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Ugga Vesālika,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Uggata
[120.7][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus, the housefather Uggata,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṅgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Uggata,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Sūra Ambaṭṭha
[120.8][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus, the housefather Sūra Ambaṭṭha,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṅgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Sūra Ambaṭṭha,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Jīvaka Komārabhacca
[120.9][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus, the housefather Jīvaka Komārabhacca,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṅgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Jīvaka Komārabhacca,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Nakulapitā
[120.10][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus, the housefather Nakulapitā,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṅgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Nakulapitā,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Tavakaṇṇika
[120.11][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus, the housefather Tavakaṇṇika,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṅgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Tavakaṇṇika,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Pūraṇa
[120.12][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus, the housefather Pūraṇa,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṅgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Pūraṇa,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Isidatta
[120.13][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus, the housefather Isidatta,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṅgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Isidatta,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Sandhāna
[120.14][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus, the housefather Sandhāna
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṅgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Sandhāna,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Vijaya
[120.15][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus, the housefather Vijaya,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṅgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Vijaya,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Vajiyamāhita
[120.16][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus, the housefather Vajjiyamāhita,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṅgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Vajiyamāhita,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Meṇḍaka
[120.17][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus, the housefather Meṇḍaka,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṅgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Meṇḍaka,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Vāseṭṭha
[120.18][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus, the lay disciple Vāseṭṭha,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṅgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Vāseṭṭha,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Ariṭṭha
[120.19][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus, the lay disciple Ariṭṭha,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṅgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Ariṭṭha,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Sārangga
[120.20][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus, the lay disciple Sārangga,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṅgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Sārangga,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
