Lokuttara cittas - Why are there not more ways leading to nibbana?

A.

The lokuttara citta is accompanied by paññā (wisdom), which has been

developed in vipassanā. One does not attain enlightenment without having developed insight-wisdom (vipassanā). There are several stages of insight- wisdom. First, doubt about the differences between nāma and rūpa is eliminated; one realizes when a characteristic of nāma presents itself and when a characteristic of rupa presents itself and one is not confused as to their different characteristics. In order to attain even this stage of wisdom, which is only a beginning stage, mindfulness has to be accumulated of the different kinds of nāma and rūpa which appear in daily life; in this way the paññā which knows the characteristics of nāma and rūpa more clearly can be developed. Later on paññā can realize the arising and falling away of nāma and rūpa, but this stage of wisdom cannot be realized when there is still doubt about the characteristics of nāma and rūpa.

Several more stages of insight-wisdom have to be developed until paññā can

realize the nāma and rūpa which appear as impermanent (aniccā), dukkha

and not-self (anattā), and then enlightenment will be attained. When paññā

has been developed to this degree, could there be any doubt as to whether

one has attained enlightenment or not?

B.

Can the sotāpanna develop vipassanā in the wrong way?

A.

This is ditthi and ditthi has been eradicated by the sotāpanna. In the

Abhidhamma defilements are classified in different ways and also different

kinds of wrong view are classified in various ways. For example, different

kinds of wrong view are classified under the group of defilements which is

clinging (upādāna). Three of the four kinds of clinging mentioned in this

group are clinging to different forms of ditthi; these three kinds of clinging are

eradicated by the sotāpanna. One of them is: 'clinging to rules and

ritual' (sīlabbatupādāna), which includes the wrong practice of vipassanā.

Thus, the sotāpanna cannot practise vipassanā in the wrong way. Some

people think that they can attain enlightenment by following some path other

than the Eightfold Path.

B.

Why are there not more ways leading to nibbana?

A.

The Eightfold Path is developed by being mindful of the nama and rupa which

appear at the present moment, such as seeing, visible object, hearing, sound,

thinking, or different kinds of feelings. When there is mindfulness of nāma

and rūpa, paññā can know their characteristics more clearly and thus wrong

view can be eradicated. If the Eightfold Path is not developed, wrong view of

realities cannot be eradicated and thus not even the first stage of

enlightenment, the stage of the sotāpanna, can be attained. Therefore, there

is no way leading to nibbāna other than the development of right

understanding of realities, which is the wisdom (paññā) of the

Eightfold Path.