SarathW wrote: ↑Wed May 10, 2017 9:08 am
There is an assurance that the Sotapanna will never be born in an animal womb.
Has the Sotapanna got the special privilege that s/she can break the five precepts but will never be born in the animal womb?
Greetings dhammafriend SarathW
I would assume the answer to your thoughtful question is "Yes" because it appears the animal womb as a result of kamma can only arise when there is "self-delusion", as follows:
Bhikkhus, a god, a human or any other good state would not be evident from actions born of greed, hate and delusion. Yet, bhikkhus, from actions born of greed, hate and delusion a hellish being, an animal birth a ghostly birth or some other bad state would be evident.
AN 6.39
When, due to a loss of mindfulness, a stream-enterer breaks a precept, it appears, upon wise reflection (yoniso manasikara), the stream-enterer understands its was the "element of ignorance" that broke the precept rather than "the self" or "me" or "I". But, as stated by many wise & knowledgeable posters on this thread, it would be a trifling action, such as killing an insect or taking some food without asking.