Seven Types of People in the World (sutra)

Udakupama Sutra: "The Water Simile" (AN 7.15), Ven. Thanissaro/Geoffrey DeGraff (orig. trans.); Dhr. Seven, Sayalay Aloka, Bhante (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

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The Buddha taught: "Meditators, there are seven types of individuals found existing in the world. What are these seven?

"In one case, an individual sinks down once and stays sunk. In a second case, an individual, on coming to the surface, sinks down again. In a third case, an individual, on coming to the surface, stays on the surface. In a fourth case, an individual, on coming to the surface, opens one's eyes and looks around. In a fifth case, an individual, on coming to the surface, heads across. In a sixth case, an individual, on coming to the surface, gains a foothold. In a seventh case, an individual, on coming to the surface, crosses over, reaches the further shore, stands on high ground, a Brahmin.

1. "And how does one sink down once and stay sunk? In this case an individual is endowed with exclusively dark, unskillful characteristics. That is how an individual sinks down once and stays sunk.

 

2. "And how does one, on coming to the surface, sink down again? In this case an individual comes to the surface, [seeing,] 'Confidence ["faith"] in skillful qualities is beneficial, conscientiousness is beneficial, concern is beneficial, persistence is beneficial, wisdom (insight) with regard to skillful qualities is beneficial.'

"But one's confidence neither persists nor grows; it simply wanes away. One conscientiousness, concern, persistence, wisdom neither persist nor grow; they simply wane away. That's how an individual, on coming to the surface, sinks down again.

3. "And how does one, on coming to the surface, stay there? In this case an individual comes to the surface, [seeing,] 'Confidence in skillful qualities is beneficial, conscientiousness is beneficial, concern [ottappa, concern over the results of karma/actions willed, carried out, and accrued] is beneficial, persistence is beneficial, wisdom with regard to skillful qualities is beneficial.'

"One's confidence does not wane; instead, it develops and persists. One's conscientiousness, concern, persistence, wisdom do not wane; instead, they develop and persist. That is how an individual, on coming to the surface, stays on the surface.

4. "And how does one, on coming to the surface, open one's eyes and look around? In this case an individual comes to the surface, [seeing,] 'Confidence in skillful qualities is beneficial, conscientiousness is beneficial, concern is beneficial, persistence is beneficial, wisdom with regard to skillful qualities is beneficial.'
 
"With the eradication of [the first] three fetters [in the list of ten], one becomes a stream-winner [the first stage of enlightenment], steadfast, no longer liable to being reborn in any of the [four] woeful states, now destined for enlightenment. That is how an individual, on coming to the surface, opens one's eyes and looks around.

5. "And how does one, on coming to the surface, head across? In this case an individual comes to the surface, [seeing,] 'Confidence in skillful qualities is beneficial, conscientiousness is beneficial, concern is beneficial, persistence is beneficial, wisdom with regard to skillful qualities is beneficial.'

"With the total eradication of [the first] three fetters, and with the weakening of [the first three cankers] passion, aversion, and delusion [or greed, hatred, and ignorance], one becomes a once-returner,* who -- on returning [being reborn] only once more in this world -- will make an end of all suffering [i.e., gain full enlightenment and attain nirvana]. That is how an individual, on coming to the surface, heads across.

• [*The various stages of enlightenment, listed as four distinct attainments (divided into four paths and four fruits) in most places, but actually consisting of seven stages, as explained in the Path to Freedom or Vimutti Magga, a commentarial text thought to have been written by Buddhaghosa as he composed his magnum opus the Path of Purification or Visuddhi Magga.]

6. "And how does one, on coming to the surface, gain a foothold? In this case an individual comes to the surface, [seeing,] 'Confidence in skillful qualities is beneficial, conscientiousness is beneficial, concern is beneficial, persistence is beneficial, wisdom with regard to skillful qualities is beneficial.'

"With the total eradication of the five lower fetters, one is due to be reborn [in the Pure Abodes], there to experience full enlightenment and nirvana, never again to return from that world. That is how an individual, on coming to the surface, gains a foothold.

7. "And how does one, on coming to the surface, cross over, reach the further shore [nirvana], stand on high ground, a Brahmin? In this case an individual comes to the surface, [seeing,] 'Confidence in skillful qualities is beneficial, conscientiousness is beneficial, concern is beneficial, persistence is beneficial, wisdom with regard to skillful qualities is beneficial.'

"With the eradication of the mental defilements, one enters and remains in the defilement-free liberation born of wisdom, having directly known and seen them for oneself here and now. That is how an individual, on coming to the surface, crosses over, reaches the further shore, stands on high ground, a Brahmin.

"These are the seven types of individuals found existing in the world."

• More at Iti 69, Sn 5