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Gradual Path to Awakening

· 58 min read

This is a case study of a person gradually becoming awakened from hearing the Buddha’s teachings. It is presented in various forms in DN as well as MN and in parallel versions in the other canons.

1030. In the same way, Brāhmaṇa, here in the world, a Tathāgata arises, an arahant (liberated one), a sammāsambuddha (perfectly awakened one), accomplished in knowledge and conduct, fortunate, knower of the world, unsurpassed trainer of persons to be tamed, teacher of gods and humans, the Awakened One, the Bhagavā. He declares this world — with its deities, Māras, and Brahmās, this generation with its religious practitioners, its gods and humans — having realised it for himself through experiential understanding. He teaches the Dhamma that is good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased; he makes known the brahmacariya (optimal life) that is wholly complete and perfectly pure. A householder or a householder’s son, or one born in some other family, hears that Dhamma. Having heard that Dhamma, he gains faith in the Tathāgata. Endowed with that gain of faith, he reflects thus:

‘Household life is confining, a dusty path. Going forth is the open air. It is not easy for one living in a house to lead the optimal life that is utterly perfect, utterly pure, like a polished shell. What if I, having shaved off my hair and beard, and having put on saffron robes, were to go forth from the home life into homelessness?’

So, at a later time, having given up a small or large pile of wealth, having given up a small or large family circle, having shaved off his hair and beard, and having put on saffron robes, he goes forth from the home life into homelessness.

1031. Having thus gone forth, having undertaken the training and livelihood of bhikkhū, giving up the taking of life, he abstains from the taking of life; he lives with rod and weapon laid aside, scrupulous, compassionate, sympathetic for the welfare of all living beings.

1032. Giving up the taking of what is not given, he abstains from the taking of what is not given; he takes what is given, expects only what is given. Not a thief, he lives pure in himself.

1033. Giving up uncelibacy, he practises celibacy, keeps far away from sexual intercourse, abstains from vulgar practice.

1034. Giving up false speech, he abstains from false speech; he is truthful, true to his word, honest, reliable, keeping promises for everyone in the world.

1035. Giving up slanderous speech, he abstains from slanderous speech; having listened here, he does not tell it there to break up these people; having listened there, he does not tell it here to break up those people. Thus he is a conciliator of the broken and a provider of friendly terms; enjoying concord, liking harmony, delighting in unity, he speaks peace-making speech.

1036. Giving up harsh speech, he abstains from harsh speech. Whatever speech is gentle, pleasant to hear, friendly, heart-warming, polite, loved by the people, charming to the people — such speech he speaks.

1037. Giving up gossip, he abstains from gossip; he speaks at the proper time, speaks what is true, speaks what is meaningful, speaks about the Dhamma, speaks about the discipline; he speaks speech worth remembering, timely, reasonable, purposeful, beneficial.

1038. He abstains from harming seed-and-plant life. He eats one meal a day, abstaining from eating at night, abstaining from eating between midday and dawn. He abstains from dancing, singing, instrumental music, and watching shows. He abstains from using garlands, perfumes, oils, adornments and decorations. He abstains from large and luxurious beds. He abstains from accepting gold and silver. He abstains from accepting raw grain. He abstains from accepting raw meat. He abstains from accepting women and girls. He abstains from accepting female and male servants. He abstains from accepting goats and sheep. He abstains from accepting chickens and pigs. He abstains from accepting elephants, cattle, horses, and mares. He abstains from accepting fields and land. He abstains from engaging in messages and errands. He abstains from buying and selling. He abstains from cheating with scales, weights, or measures. He abstains from bribery, deception, fraud, and crookedness. He abstains from cutting, beating, binding, robbery, plunder, and violence.

1039. He is content with a robe to look after his body and alms food to look after his stomach. Wherever he goes, he goes taking only these with him. Just as a winged bird, wherever it flies, flies with its wings as its only burden; in the same way, a bhikkhu is content with a robe to look after his body and alms food to look after his stomach. Wherever he goes, he goes taking only these with him. Endowed with this collection of virtue of the liberated, he experiences blameless happiness within himself.

1040. When he sees a form with the eye, he does not grasp at its representations or details. He practises for the restraint of that eye faculty, through which, if it were unrestrained, evil, unwholesome characteristics of covetousness and displeasure might invade him. He guards the eye faculty; he undertakes restraint of the eye faculty. When he hears a sound with the ear… when he smells an odour with the nose… when he tastes a taste with the tongue… when he touches a tangible with the body… when he cognises a mind-object with the mind, he does not grasp at its representations or details. He practises for the restraint of that mind faculty, through which, if it were unrestrained, evil, unwholesome characteristics of covetousness and displeasure might invade him. He guards the mind faculty; he undertakes restraint of the mind faculty. Endowed with this restraint of the faculties of the liberated, he experiences unadulterated happiness within himself.

1041. He acts with clear comprehension when going forward and returning; he acts with clear comprehension when looking forward and looking around; he acts with clear comprehension when bending and stretching; he acts with clear comprehension when carrying his outer robe, bowl, and robe; he acts with clear comprehension when eating, drinking, chewing, and tasting; he acts with clear comprehension when defecating and urinating; he acts with clear comprehension when walking, standing, sitting, sleeping, waking, speaking, and remaining silent.

1042. Endowed with this collection of virtue of the liberated, endowed with this contentment of the liberated, endowed with this restraint of the faculties of the liberated, and endowed with this sati (awareness) and sampajañña (clear comprehension) of the liberated, he resorts to a secluded dwelling: a wilderness, the foot of a tree, a mountain, a ravine, a hillside cave, a charnel ground, a forest grove, the open air, a heap of straw. After his meal, having returned from his alms round, he sits down, folding his legs crosswise, setting his body erect, and establishing awareness in front of him. Giving up covetousness for the world, he dwells with a mind free from covetousness; he purifies his mind from covetousness. Giving up ill will and hatred, he dwells with a mind free from ill will, sympathetic for the welfare of all living beings; he purifies his mind from ill will and hatred. Giving up sloth and torpor, he dwells free from sloth and torpor, with apperception of light, aware and clearly comprehending; he purifies his mind from sloth and torpor. Giving up restlessness and remorse, he dwells undisturbed, with his mind inwardly peaceful; he purifies his mind from restlessness and remorse. Giving up doubt, he dwells having crossed over doubt, without perplexity regarding wholesome characteristics; he purifies his mind from doubt.

1043. Having given up these five nīvaraṇā (hindrances), imperfections of the mind that weaken wisdom, secluding himself from sensual pleasures, detaching from unwholesome characteristics, he enters and remains in the first jhāna (mental disposition), accompanied by reflection and consideration, secluded from defilements, with felicity and satisfaction. This too, Brāhmaṇa, is called a footprint of the Tathāgata, and a track of the Tathāgata, and a marking of the Tathāgata. Yet the ariyasāvaka (disciple of the liberated) does not yet come to the conclusion: ‘The Bhagavā is perfectly awakened, the Dhamma has been well proclaimed by the Bhagavā, the Saṅgha of the Bhagavā’s disciples has practised well.’

1044. And furthermore, Brāhmaṇa, a bhikkhu, with the conclusion of reflection and consideration, enters and remains in the second mental disposition, accompanied by an inner calming of intention, focused, without reflection, without consideration, born from focus, with felicity and satisfaction. This too, Brāhmaṇa, is called… the Saṅgha of the Bhagavā’s disciples has practised well.’

1045. And furthermore, Brāhmaṇa, a bhikkhu, with the detachment from felicity, remains equanimous, aware and clearly comprehending, and experiences body comfort, as the liberated ones describe: ‘equanimous, aware, living at ease’ — he enters and remains in the third mental disposition. This too, Brāhmaṇa, is called… the Saṅgha of the Bhagavā’s disciples has practised well.’

1046. And furthermore, Brāhmaṇa, a bhikkhu, with the giving up of the pleasant and the unpleasant, and with the previous disappearance of mental pleasure and displeasure, enters and remains in the fourth mental disposition, in a neutral state, and possessing purification of awareness by equanimity. This too, Brāhmaṇa, is called a footprint of the Tathāgata, and a track of the Tathāgata, and a marking of the Tathāgata. Yet the disciple of the liberated does not yet come to the conclusion: ‘The Bhagavā is perfectly awakened, the Dhamma has been well proclaimed by the Bhagavā, the Saṅgha of the Bhagavā’s disciples has practised well.’

1047. When his mind is thus focused, purified, bright, unblemished, rid of imperfection, malleable, wieldy, steady, and attained to imperturbability, he directs it to knowledge of the recollection of past lives. He recollects his manifold past lives, that is, one birth, two births… thus with their aspects and particulars, he recollects his manifold past lives. This too, Brāhmaṇa, is called a footprint of the Tathāgata, and a track of the Tathāgata, and a marking of the Tathāgata. Yet the disciple of the liberated does not yet come to the conclusion: ‘The Bhagavā is perfectly awakened, the Dhamma has been well proclaimed by the Bhagavā, the Saṅgha of the Bhagavā’s disciples has practised well.’

1048. When his mind is thus focused, purified, bright, unblemished, rid of imperfection, malleable, wieldy, steady, and attained to imperturbability, he directs it to knowledge of the passing away and reappearance of beings. With the divine eye, which is purified and surpasses the human… he understands how beings pass on according to their actions. This too, Brāhmaṇa, is called a footprint of the Tathāgata, and a track of the Tathāgata, and a marking of the Tathāgata. Yet the disciple of the liberated does not yet come to the conclusion: ‘The Bhagavā is perfectly awakened, the Dhamma has been well proclaimed by the Bhagavā, the Saṅgha of the Bhagavā’s disciples has practised well.’

1049. When his mind is thus focused, purified, bright, unblemished, rid of imperfection, malleable, wieldy, steady, and attained to imperturbability, he directs it to knowledge of the destruction of the āsavā (defilements). He knows clearly as it really is: ‘This is dukkha (suffering).’ He knows clearly as it really is: ‘This is the origin of suffering.’ He knows clearly as it really is: ‘This is the cessation of suffering.’ He knows clearly as it really is: ‘This is the path leading to the cessation of suffering.’ He knows clearly as it really is: ‘These are the defilements.’ He knows clearly as it really is: ‘This is the origin of the defilements.’ He knows clearly as it really is: ‘This is the cessation of the defilements.’ He knows clearly as it really is: ‘This is the path leading to the cessation of the defilements.’ This too, Brāhmaṇa, is called a footprint of the Tathāgata, and a track of the Tathāgata, and a marking of the Tathāgata. Yet the disciple of the liberated has not yet come to the conclusion, but rather is coming to the conclusion: ‘The Bhagavā is perfectly awakened, the Dhamma has been well proclaimed by the Bhagavā, the Saṅgha of the Bhagavā’s disciples has practised well.’

1050. When he knows and sees thus, his mind is liberated from the defilement of sensual pleasure, his mind is liberated from the defilement of existence, his mind is liberated from the defilement of ignorance. In liberation there is the knowledge: ‘liberated’. He knows clearly: ‘Birth (of suffering) is finished, the optimal life is lived, what had to be done is done, there is nothing further for this present state of existence.’ This too, Brāhmaṇa, is called a footprint of the Tathāgata, and a track of the Tathāgata, and a marking of the Tathāgata. To this extent, Brāhmaṇa, the disciple of the liberated has come to the conclusion: ‘The Bhagavā is perfectly awakened, the Dhamma has been well proclaimed by the Bhagavā, the Saṅgha of the Bhagavā’s disciples has practised well.’

Anālayo has compared Cūḷahatthipadopamasutta with its parallel MĀ 146 at T I 656a-658a — “the discourse on the simile of the elephant’s footprint” (象跡喻經) and notes:

While the Majjhima-nikāya version’s account of the gradual training culminates in the three higher knowledges, the Madhyama-āgama discourse proceeds from the attainment of the fourth jhāna directly to the destruction of the influxes. This presentation is noteworthy, since standard descriptions of the gradual path in the Pāli discourses usually mention the whole set of three higher knowledges, or even the six higher knowledges.

From a practical perspective, however, to proceed from the attainment of the fourth jhāna directly to the destruction of the influxes would be possible, as the early discourses do not consider recollection of past lives and the ability to directly perceive the passing away and reappearing of beings according to their deeds as necessary requirements for the destruction of the influxes. Yet, in the present instance the Buddha is describing his teaching to a Brahmin visitor. In view of this, it would fit the context well if he were to bring in all of the three higher knowledges (tevijjā), thereby describing what constitutes the Buddhist counterpart to the three knowledges valued by contemporary Brahmins. Another difference between the two versions is that the Cūḷahatthipadopama-sutta presents insight into the four noble truths as the way to reach complete confidence, while the successful destruction of the influxes is the point at which complete confidence has been reached. The Madhyama-āgama version does not have such a distinction, but simply treats insight into the four noble truths and the destruction of the influxes together.

According to the commentarial explanation, the finer distinction introduced at this point refers to the difference between path and fruition attainment, since at the path moment the noble disciple is about to reach complete confidence, whereas with the fruition moment of full awakening he has completely done so.

Yet, according to the standard commentarial presentation already the path moment eradicates the defilements. Thus, the commentarial explanation does not seem to fit the passage it purports to explain so well, as in the Cūḷahatthipadopama-sutta the eradication of the influxes takes place only at the point that according to the commentary would represent the fruition moment of an arahant.