Go with the flow, go against the stream? (sutra)

Ven. Thanissaro (trans.) Anusota Sutra (AN 4.5); Dhr. Seven, Amber Larson, Wisdom Quarterly

(QOTSA/Queens of the Stone Age/~Eagles of Death Metal dead in Paris) "Go With the Flow"

  

[Thus have I heard. The Buddha taught:] "There are four types of individuals that can be found existing in the world. What four?

1. The individual who goes with the flow,
2. the individual who goes against the stream,
3. the individual who stands fast, and
4. the one who has crossed over, gone beyond, who stands on firm ground, a superior person.

1.

Hi. Rupert and I go with thee flow, lol.

"Who is the individual who goes with the flow? In one case an individual indulges in sensual passions and does harmful deeds. This is the individual who goes with the flow.
 
2.
"Who is the individual who goes against the stream? In another case an individual does not indulge in sensual passions and does not do harmful deeds.

Meditation (AgainstTheStream.org)

"Even though it may be with pain, even though it may be with sorrow, even though one may be crying, one's face in tears, one lives the high life that is perfect and pure. This is the individual who goes against the stream (goes against the flow of the world).

3.
"Who is the individual who stands fast? In one case an individual, with the total abandoning and ending of the first five fetters, is due to be reborn [in the Pure Abodes], there to become enlightened and gain nirvana, never again to return [by rebirth to this world] from that world. This is the individual who stands fast.

• [What's needed to gain enlightenment right now?]

We go for guidance (sarana) to the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha (Bugphai/flickr).

 
4.

With compassion comes wisdom.

"Who is the individual who has crossed over, gone beyond, who stands on firm ground, a superior person?

"In this case an individual, by bringing about the end of the mental effluents (outflows), enters and remains in the taint-free liberation by wisdom, having known and made them manifest for oneself here and now.

"This is the individual who has crossed over, gone beyond, who stands on firm ground, a superior person.
 
"These are the four types of individuals that can be found existing in the world."

Summary in verse
Those unrestrained in sensual passions, not yet free of passions, indulging in sensuality, they return again and again to birth and aging -- seized by craving, going with the flow.

Thus an enlightened one, with mindfulness established here and now -- not indulging in sensuality and harm, though it may be with pain [of restraint] -- would abandon sensuality. They call such a person one who goes against the stream.

Whoever, having abandoned the first five defilements, is perfect in training, not liable to fall back, skilled in consciousness, with faculties composed: Such a person is one who stands fast.

Even a person of 7-y.o. can become enlightened.

In one who, having known that qualities high and low have been eradicated, gone to their end, do not exist, such a person is called a master of knowledge, one who has fulfilled the high life, gone to the world's end, gone beyond, gone [altogether] beyond.