What do you think, Subhuti? Supposing a disciple who has attained the degree of Crotapanna (entered the stream), could he make any such arbitrary assertion as, 'I have entered the stream'? Subhuti replied:-No, honored of the worlds. Because, while, by that measure of attainment, it means that he has entered the Holy Stream, yet, speaking truly, he has not entered anything, nor has his mind entertained any such arbitrary conception as form, sound, taste, odor, touch and discrimination. It is because of that degree of attainment that he is entitled to be called a Crotapanna. What think you, Subhuti? Suppose a disciple has attained the degree of Sakradagamin (one more return), could he make any such arbitrary assertion as, 'I have attained the degree of Sakradagamin'? No, Honored of the worlds. Because by the degree of Sakradagamin, it is meant that he is to be reborn but once more. Yet speaking truly, there will be no rebirth either in this world or in any oth`er world. It is because he knows this that he is to be called a Sakradagamin. What think you, Subhuti? Suppose a. disciple has attained the degree of Anagamin (Never to return), could he hold within his mind any such arbitrary conception as, 'I have attained the degree of Anagamin'? No, Honored of the worlds! Because by the degree of Ariagamin it means that he is never to return, yet, speaking truly, one who has attained that degree never cherishes any such arbitrary conception and for that reason, he is entitled to be called, an Anagamin. What think you, Subhuti? Suppose a disciple has attained the degree of Arahat (Fully enlightened), could he entertain within his mind any such arbitrary conception as, 'I have become an Arahat'? No, Honored of the worlds. Because speaking truly, there is no such thing as a fully enlightened one. Should a disciple who has attained such a degree of enlightenment, cherish within his mind such an arbitrary conception as, 'I have become an Arahat,' he would soon be grasping after such things as his own selfhood, other selves, living beings and a universal self. 0 Blessed Lord! Thou hast said that I have attained the samadhi of 'non-assertion' and, therefore, have reached the climax of human attainment and, because of it, am an Arahat. If I had cherished within my mind the thought, 'I am an Arahat free from all desire'! My Lord could not have declared that Subhuti delights himself in the practice of silence and tranquility. But, speaking truly, I have cherished no such arbitrary thought, so my Lord could truly say, 'Subhuti delights himself in the practice of silence and tranquility.'





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