Sotapanna

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Sotapatti. (Discuss)

Sotapanna the first of Sangha-members
A Sotapanna (Pali, Sanskrit: Srotapanna) is a partially-enlightened person, who has eradicated the first three fetters of the mind, that prevent freedom. Sotapanna literally means "one who enters (āpadyate) the stream (sota)", after a simile that compares attaining enlightenment with crossing a stream and reaching the further shore. Sotapannaship is the first of the four stages of enlightenment.

Buddha said that a stream-enterer will surely attain full enlightenment (Arahant) within no more than seven successive rebirths, possibly in this current life. The Venerable One will thus give the gift of the realisation of the end of suffering to him/herself within seven lives and is capable of giving the great gifts to many. The stream-winner can also be sure that he or she will not be reborn in any of the unhappy rebirths (that is, as an animal, as a preta, or as a being in hell (Niraya). The stream-enterer has attained an intuitive grasp of Buddhist doctrine (samyagdṛṣṭi or sammādiṭṭhi, "right view"), has complete confidence in the Three Jewels of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, and follows Buddhist morality (sila). The stream-enterer is said to have "opened the eye of the Dharma" (Pāli dhammacakkhu), which means that he has seen Dhamma and, as a result of that, can see it (his eye is open now, not closed any more).

The three specific chains or fetters (Pali: saṃyojana) of which the Sotapanna is free are:

1. Sakkāya-diṭṭhi (Pali) - Belief in self
2. Vicikicchā (Pali) - Skeptical doubt
3. Sīlabbata-parāmāsa (Pali) - Attachment to rites and rituals

Difference between Sotapanna and Sotapatti
There is a difference between Sotapanna(stream-enterer) and Sotapatti(stream-entry).Where as Sotapanna is the person, Sotapatti is the act of stream-entry. Acts done focussed on the factors of stream-entry. Thus it are acts that characterizes Sotapanna, for like fools and wise, a Sotapanna is characterized by his or her actions.
"Monks, a fool is characterized by his/her actions. A wise person is characterized by his/her actions. It is through the activities of one's life that one's discernment shines. "A person endowed with three things is to be recognized as a fool. Which three? Bodily misconduct, verbal misconduct, mental misconduct. A person endowed with these three things is to be recognized as a fool. "A person endowed with three things is to be recognized as a wise person. Which three? Good bodily conduct, good verbal conduct, good mental conduct. A person endowed with these three things is to be recognized as a wise person. "Thus, monks, you should train yourselves: 'We will avoid the three things that, endowed with which, one is to be recognized as a fool. We will undertake & maintain the three things that, endowed with which, one is to be recognized as a wise person.' That's how you should train yourselves."''

Venerable Sariputta and the Sotapanna
There was a great man who contributed a lot to increase of the number of Sotapanna in the Sangha and it was Venerable Sariputta, below pointed out by the Buddha for his love for the Sangha.
"Monks, follow Sariputta and Moggallana; associate with Sariputta and Moggallana. Wise monks do help (materially and spiritually) those who live the holy life. Monks, Sariputta is like unto a mother, Moggallana is like unto a foster-mother to a child. Sariputta, monks, trains (beings) in the path of stream-attainment. Moggallana in the highest goal (arahantship).Sariputta, monks, is able to proclaim, teach, lay down, establish, open up, analyze, and elucidate the Four Noble Truths."
In Samyutta Nikaya 55.5 Sotapatti samyutta - the venerable Sariputta is questioned by the Buddha about the stream and a stream-enterer.
... ... Sariputta, this is said: The stream, the stream, what now Sariputta is the stream?
This noble eightfold path, venerable sir, is the stream; that is right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration.
Good, good Sariputta! This Noble Eightfold Path is the stream; that is right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration. Sariputta, this is said: A stream-enterer, a stream enterer (Sotapanna), what now is a stream enterer.?
One who possesses this Noble Eightfold Path, venerable sir, is called a stream-enterer; this Venerable One of such a name and clan....

Literature and Sotapanna
The Buddha spoke favourable about the Sotapanna on many occasions, and even though it is the first of Sangha members, he or she is welcomed by all other Sangha-members for he or she practices for the benefit and welfare of many. In the literature the Sangha is often described as the four when taken as pairs the eight when taken as individuals. Thus the first one of the pairs is referred to as the Sotapanna, a stream enterer, however when taken as eight individual, not only is the Sotapanna acts with stream-entry present but also a Sotapanna (plus), A Noble One who acts for the fruit of stream-entry. The Sangha of the Blessed One's disciples is practising the good way, practising the straight way, practising the true way, practising the proper; that is the four pairs of persons, the eight types of individuals - this Sangha of the Blessed One's disciples is worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings, worthy of reverential salutation, the unsurpassed field of merit for the world.
The fifty-fifth samyutta of the Samyutta Nikaya is titled the Sotāpatti-saṃyutta, and concerns a bit about Sotapannas and their attainment. In following Sutta-numbers of that chapter 1-4, 6-9, 11-14, 16-20, 22-36, 39-49, 51, 53, 54 are they praised as Sangha members by and to sick, layfollowers, people on deathbed, bhikkhunis , bhikkhus, devas and end up for wellbeing and benefit many.

Dhammapada 178:

Sole dominion over the earth,

going to heaven,

lordship over all worlds:

the fruit of stream-entry

excels them.

A special site for warvictims
There is a special site for warvictims to help them transform their acts into a safe and secure rebirth that is no longer in the lower realms or states worse than the previous encountered war situations. Transformationhelp for warvictims to Sotapanna