Paññāsikhara wrote:A living puthujjana actually and in truth is to be found but not an arahant.
It sounds to me as though you think that an in the case of an unenlightened person there is some "actual in truth" soul / person / being, but not for an arahant.
No, there isn't some "actual in truth" soul/person/being but there is some "actual in truth"
illusion of a soul/person/being in case of an unenlightended person, but not for an arahant.
Paññāsikhara wrote:Do you think that becoming an arahant entails the destruction of this "actual in truth" soul / person / being?
No, it entails the destruction of the illusion.
Paññāsikhara wrote:The difference between the puthujjana and the arahanat is not viz whether or not "actual in truth" there is a being to be found, but whether or not the defilements are present. Between a puthujjana and a sotapanna, the difference is whether or not the "identity view" is present.
It seems to me that you are conflating "actual in truth being" with "identity view". Whether or not some so-called being has an identity view or defilements is irrelevant to whether or not the term "killing" is applicable.
A definiton from a dictionary for "to kill":
a. To put to death.
b. To deprive of life
No "identity view" means no "person" existing, no "person" existing means no conceit "I am", no conceit "I am" means there is no "being", no "being" means terms like "birth", "life", "death" aren't applicable.
According to the dictionary definition "killing" is not applicable in case of an arahant.
Paññāsikhara wrote:Although if an arahant were killed, they would not think "I (actually and truly) am being killed", this is irrelevant to the act of "killing".
Absolutely! In case of an unenlightened person it is even irrelevant who is going to be killed, it doesn't matter (very much) whether it is an arahant or not. The intentions matter and would lead to hellish rebirth for the one who's acting.
Paññāsikhara wrote:If the killer did not think that the arahant were "actually and truly" a living being, then they wouldn't have the intention to kill the arahant in the first place. Because such a person would be at least a sotapanna, thus incapable of committing any act which would lead to hellish rebirth, and thus incapable of killing an arahant.
Sure! I already said something like this
here. But not equally detailed like you.
best wishes, acinteyyo