Meditation and where is the path (SN22.122)

General discussion of issues related to Theravada Meditation, e.g. meditation postures, developing a regular sitting practice, skillfully relating to difficulties and hindrances, etc.
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Alex123
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Meditation and where is the path (SN22.122)

Post by Alex123 »

Hello all,

I wonder, why in this sutta there is no mention of the stream entry path, just the fruit? It goes from virtuous monk to stream entry fruit (phala).

  • " For it is possible that a virtuous monk, attending in an appropriate way to these five clinging-aggregates as inconstant, stressful, a disease, a cancer, an arrow, painful, an affliction, alien, a dissolution, an emptiness, not-self, would realize the fruit of stream-entry."sn22.122

Is one "on the path" while diligently and ardently contemplating the above?
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retrofuturist
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Re: Meditation and where is the path (SN22.122)

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings Alex,

This is telling us that it is possible to experience (or re-experience, in the case of sotapanna?) the fruit of the path via such modes of viewing.

Thus, this mode of attention can be efficacious whether you're putthujana or sotapanna.

Metta,
Retro. :)
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
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Nicolas
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Re: Meditation and where is the path (SN22.122)

Post by Nicolas »

It is also possible that the path is implied (if there is fruition, there must have been path, perhaps no need to explicitly mention it unless you specifically are taking about the path/fruit distinction, which doesn't seem to be the case in this sutta).
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