Early Monastic Buddhism v2.c35.s8.11

v2.c35.s8.11

Allied to the above views, there are two other views of the Uttarāpathakas: one is that the persons who have to take seven more births to attain Nibbāna (sattakkhattuparama) can reach the goal after seven births and not earlier or later. The Th. are not prepared to accept this view on the ground that such persons may quicken their space by greater exertion or retard their progress by performing evil deeds (xii. 5). The second is that an adept may attain the four fruits of sanctification by one magga. The Th. contend that an adept can attain the phalas of the corresponding maggas only, i.e., a sotāpanna gets rid of sakkāyadiṭṭhi, etc. and he cannot attain the phalas of the sakadāgami or anāgami magga, i.e., elimination of rāga, dosa and moha. The Uttarāpathakas do not subscribe to the latter view (xviii. 5).