"Am I Enlightened?" How to Know

DN 16 abbreviated from translation based on Maurice Walshe edited by WQ

Thus have I heard. Once while in the town of Nadika, Ananda asked the Buddha, "Where have these meditating lay-devotees been reborn?" The Buddha explained the fate of many lay-followers who had passed away by name and added:

"Ananda, in the town of Nadika:

• More than 50 lay-followers have (by the destruction of the five lower fetters) been spontaneously reborn [as Non-Returners] and will gain nirvana from that state without returning to this world.
• Rather more than 90 (by the destruction of three fetters and the reduction of greed, hatred, and delusion) are Once-Returners, who will come back once more to this world and then make an end of suffering.
• And well over 500 (by the destruction of three fetters) are Stream-Winners, incapable of falling into states of woe, certain of attaining nirvana.

"Ananda, it is not remarkable that that which has come to be as a human should die. But that you should come to the Tathagata [the Buddha referring to himself] to ask the fate of each of those who died, that is a weariness to him [Note 1].

"Therefore, Ananda, I will teach you a way of knowing Dharma, called the Mirror [in which to inspect oneself] of the Dharma, whereby the noble disciple, if one so wishes, can discern of oneself:

'I have destroyed [the possibility of rebirth in]

• hells
• animal-worlds
• the realm of ghosts
• all downfall
• all unprofitable fates and sorry states.

'I am a Stream-Winner, incapable of falling into states of woe, certain of attaining nirvana.'

"And what is the Mirror of the Dharma by which one can know this?

Here, Ananda, this noble disciple is possessed of unwavering confidence [Note 2] in the Buddha, thus: "The Buddha is an arahant, a fully-enlightened buddha, endowed with wisdom and conduct, the Well-Farer, Knower of the worlds, incomparable Trainer of humans to be tamed, Teacher of devas and humans, enlightened and blessed."

"One is possessed of unwavering faith in the Dharma, visible here and now, timeless, inviting inspection, leading onward, to be comprehended by the wise each for oneself."

"One is possessed of unwavering trust in the Sangha, thus: "Well-directed is the [noble] Sangha of the Buddha's disciples, of upright conduct, on the right path, on the perfect path. That is to say, the four pairs of persons, the eight kinds of humans. The Sangha of the Buddha's disciples is

• worthy of offerings
• worthy of hospitality
• worthy of gifts
• worthy of veneration
• an unsurpassed field of merit in the world.

"And one is possessed of virtue dear to the Noble Ones, unbroken, without defect, unspotted, without inconsistency [Note 3], liberating, uncorrupted, and conducive to concentration.

"This Ananda, is the Mirror of the Dharma, whereby a noble disciple...can discern of oneself: "I have destroyed [the possibility of rebirth in] hells...I am a Stream-Winner...certain of attaining nirvana."

Then the Buddha, staying at Nadika at the Brick House, gave a comprehensive discourse to the Sangha there, teaching: This is virtue, this is concentration, this is wisdom...

NOTES

1. Commentary: Buddhas can feel only physical, not mental, weariness.
2. "Has no doubt," that is, has transcended all doubt by "entering the Stream."
3. "not deficient, undisturbed" according to the Pali English Dictionary.