Change of Lineage and Stream Entry
Stream-entry is a state of mind that occurs when the practitioner has understood the teachings of Buddha to abandon doubts about what Buddha taught. Having a comprehension of Buddha’s teachings, a stream enterer eradicates three fetters at once: clinging to self-view, precepts, and traditions including rites and rituals. This is because at the heart of the teachings of Buddha is a practice that is genuine to one’s heart. Therefore, a practitioner at this stage will no longer validate the need to cling to precepts or rites and rituals but will be liberated from such bindings to experience peace and freedom within. It is called “stream”-entry, because one enters the stream, Buddha’s training path leading to higher attainments. When entering the stream, a change of linage takes place in that one comes to belong to the noble linage of Buddha due to a transition that happens in one’s mind from the state of an ordinary being to becoming a noble being who possesses a noble character. This process happens out of rites and rituals meaning that any person from any background can come to belong to a noble sangha by entering the stream-entry state in one’s mind. Thus, someone practicing a monk lifestyle (ritualistically) and someone living the lifestyle of a householder have an opportunity to become a noble sangha by transitioning from an ordinary being to a noble being in the path leading to Arahathship, the highest stage of noble sainthood. Spiritual practice is not something separate from ordinary life but a part of ordinary life. Thus, there were many occasions when people attained stream-entry by hearing a single discourse and, in a few cases, anagami or arahantship (e.g., The story of the giver of the first-fruits of his labour, Dhp 367, the brahmin and his wife attained Anagami Frution at the end of the discourse; the story of Uggasena, Dhp 348, Uggasena attained arahantship while dancing on a pole ). There is a path and practice that leads to the four stages of enlightenment, and having a full comprehension of enlightenment means clearly understanding and reaching the four stages of enlightenment and the practice leading to each stage of enlightenment.