“The first level of enlightenment has to do with the body. A sotāpanna is capable of teaching his mind to let go of the body...”

The Teachings of Ajahn Suchart.

29 April 2024

“The first level of enlightenment has to do with the body. A sotāpanna is capable of teaching his mind to let go of the body...”

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Question from Malaysia: Can a layperson attain sotāpanna in this life? 

If yes, how can he or she attain it, what are the criteria to attain Sotāpanna?  

Than Ajahn: Anybody can become a Sotāpanna (the first level of enlightenment). 

All you need is to have morality – to maintain at least the 8 precepts; To be able to control your mind in meditation – to make your mind calm, peaceful and content; 

And to have the wisdom to see that everything is impermanent, everything is not under your control, and everything will make you unhappy sooner or later. If you can do these, then you can become enlightened. 

The first level of enlightenment has to do with the body. A sotāpanna is capable of teaching his mind to let go of the body by seeing that the body is not the mind. 

The mind only comes to possess the body at the time of conception. 

It then uses the body as a servant. It tells the body what to do. 

The mind and the body are two separate entities. The body will eventually return to its former self. 

The body is made up from the 4 elements. It comes from the earth, water, wind and fire. Eventually, the body will return to the 4 elements. 

You also need to have the wisdom. 

You know that the body is impermanent. You know that the body is not you. If you cling to your body, you will be hurt, you will suffer. If you don’t want to be hurt, then you have to let the body be. Let the body get old. 

Let the body get sick. Let the body die. If you still can fix the body, do it. Like when your body gets sick, you can go to the hospital to treat it or use medicine to cure it. But when it comes to a point when there is nothing else you can do, then you just have to let it be. 

If you can let the body be, your mind will become peaceful. Your mind will not be hurt. 

So, this is what a sotāpanna will achieve. He studies the nature of the body and he has to separate the body from the mind.

Youtube: “Dhamma in English, Dec 18, 2018.”

By Ajahn Suchart Abhijāto

www.phrasuchart.com

Latest Dhamma talks on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi_BnRZmNgECsJGS31F495g