Who is incapable of attaining stream entry?
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Ven Pesala:
The primary goal should be to avoid rebirth in the lower realms. To be sure of that we should strive to attain at least the first stage of Stream-winning in this very life. That is not nearly as difficult at to attain Arahantship and put an end to all suffering.
I would say that most people have the ability to attain Stream-winning if they really work hard for it, but most of us just do not try hard enough. Very few individuals have killed their own mother or father, or an Arahant, or caused a schism in the Sangha. No one alive today could have drawn the blood of a Tath�gata. Only these five kammas are heavy enough to make the attainment of nibb�na impossible in this very life.
Then there are those who aspire to attain Omnscient Buddhahood. The Noblest Aspiration will prevent them from attaining nibb�na in this very life, even though they have adequate perfections to do so if they wished to.
Then there are those with mental defects, commonly called mentally retarded, who lack the wisdom facility. They are also incapable of meditating effectively as they are incapable of controlling their minds even to the extent of looking after their own physical needs.
Then there are those who have obstructive kamma such as insulting a Noble One. they can also attain nibb�na if they ask for forgiveness, but not otherwise. That is why there is a tradition of asking for forgiveness before undertaking a retreat. Those monks who have committed some offence, but conceal it without confessing it are in the same position. Lay persons who do not keep the precepts also have obstructive kamma. Those who disparage meditation practice, or believe that it is no longer possible to attain nibb�na in this era, also have obstructive kamma.
Then there are those who hold extreme wrong views such as annihilationists and eternalists, or those who deny the Enlightenment of the Buddha or the law of kamma. They can attain nibb�na if they straighten their wrong views by studying the Tipitaka and questioning those learned in the Dhamma.
Lastly, there is one other person who is incapable of realising nibb�na in this very life. Should I tell you who it is? That person might be embarrassed and stop coming to waste their time posting on Dhamma Wheel. Nevertheless I should say who it is.
The lazy person is incapable of realising nibb�na. -
Nice article. Thanks for sharing :)