Monday, April 25, 2022

Becoming a "noble one" (change of lineage)

Ven. Nyanatiloka, Buddhist Dictionary, edited by Dhr. Seven, Wisdom Quarterly; AMC; Cobra11
I get it now! Everything that arises is of a nature to pass away, unsatisfactory and impersonal.
.
A light came on to know and see.
Gotrabhū: literally, a person "who has entered the lineage (of the noble ones)," which is to say, a "matured one."

I. "Maturity-Mind-Moment" (gotrabhū-citta) is the last of the four impulsive mind-moments (javana, compare to viññāna-kicca) immediately preceding entering into an absorption (jhāna) or into one of the supermundane paths (ariya-puggala, A.).


Compare to purification (visuddhi VII. II.) The "matured one" is "one who is endowed with those things, immediately upon which follows the entrance into the noble path (ariya-magga)." "This person is called a 'matured one' " (Pug. 10). In the commentary to this passage, it is said:

Maitreya will know and see.
Such a being is called a matured one
: "One who through perceiving NIRVANA leaves behind the whole multitude of worldlings (puthujjana), the family of worldlings, the circle of worldlings, the designation of a worldling."

"And [one] enters into the multitude of the noble ones, the family of the noble ones, the circle of the noble ones, and obtains the designation of a noble one."

By this state of consciousness is meant the lightning-like transitional stage between the state of an ordinary worldling and that of a stream winner (sotāpanna). See Aryans at ariya-puggala.

Gotrabhū is mentioned in this sense, for example as 9th noble person (ariya-puggala, q.v.), in A.IX.10; A.X.16. Source
When will we awaken?
Dhr. Seven, Wisdom Quarterly
Be ever mindful of this moment.
When will our intentional actions (karma/merit/perfections) ripen? Who can say?

When, having practiced correctly, we practice again practice correctly, which allows both actions (past and present) to come to fruition and ripen (as resultants).

Of course, some say "time is unreal," as there is only really this moment. So we will awaken in the now, in the present moment, where currently we spend so little time. Therefore, rather than worry or stress about time, PRACTICE.

No comments: