Early Monastic Buddhism v2.c35.s3.t5.109

v2.c35.s3.t5.109

The third is concerned with the problem whether gods in the Rūpa or Arūpadhātu can gain samyakatvanyāma as also arhathood. The S. hold that they can attain the latter but not the former which can only be attained by a being while in the Kāmadhātu. This problem is discussed in the Kvu. (I. 3): N'atthi devesu brahmacariyāvāso ti?—an opinion held by the Sammitīyas. The opinion of the S. is upheld by the Th. In the Kvu. it is contended that "brahmacariyāvāso" does not mean merely "pabbajjā" (ordination), "muṇḍiyam" (shavenheadedness) and so forth as held by the Sammitīyas, but includes “maggabhāvanā.” The Th. and the S. hold that the Anāgāmis do not come to the Kāmadhātu but they remain in Rūpa or Arūpadhātu and by maggabhāvanā there, they become Arhats, without becoming a samyakatvanyāma.