俱舍論頌疏論本 24.44

24.44

The explanation says: For one who has attained the status of non-returner, starting from the abandonment of the first grade of the first dhyāna at the beginning up to the abandonment of the eight grades of the peak of existence at the end, this is called the path to arhatship, because one is proceeding toward the fruit of arhatship. In this very path, the uninterrupted path that abandons the ninth grade of defilement of the plane of the peak of existence is called the vajra-like concentration. This concentration is able to shatter all defilements, just as a vajra can demolish everything; hence it is called the vajra-like concentration. Although this concentration has the power to destroy all, because the remaining defilements have already been abandoned previously, it now only abandons the ninth grade of defilement. Since this concentration can abandon the ninth grade of defilement of the plane of the peak of existence, it can induce the arising of the knowledge of exhaustion that co-occurs with the acquisition of the exhaustion of this defilement; this knowledge of exhaustion is precisely the path of liberation. This path of liberation arises initially together with the acquisition of the exhaustion of contaminations, and is therefore called the knowledge of exhaustion. When the verse says 'together with the acquisition of exhaustion,' this refers to the acquisition of the exhaustion of contaminations, and together it is called the knowledge of exhaustion. Once the knowledge of exhaustion has arisen, one achieves the fruit of an aśaikṣa, because there is no more to be trained in; it is also called 'worthy' (arhat)—'arhat' is translated here as 'worthy' (ying), meaning worthy of receiving vast offerings from humans and devas.