Tipitaka >> Abhidhamma Pitaka >> Puggalapannatti >> Chapter 1
Originally Spoken by Gautam Buddha in Pali Language Around 550 BC
Pali Versions : Pali-English Version and Pali-Devanagri Version
Adapted From Translation into English by Bimala Charan Law,
Chapter 1 - Division Of Human Types By One[]
1. What sort of person is one emancipated at times ?
Here a person goes on experiencing the eight stages of
emancipation from time to time, and he having seen them
through insight, some of his sinful tendencies are completely
destroyed. Such a person is said to be emancipated at times.
2. What sort of person is one emancipated not (only) at times ?
Here a person goes on experiencing the eight stages of emancipation
though not from time to time, and he having seen them
through insight, his sinful tendencies are completely destroyed.
Such a person is said to be emancipated not (only) at times.
Indeed, all persons who are Ariyas (noble or elect) are so
emancipated in matters of the higher emancipation.
3. What sort of person is one of perturbable nature ?
Here a person obtains the attainments (of ecstatic trance)
whether accompanied by an idea of form or by an idea of
formlessness, and he does not surely obtain them as he desires,
nor without difficulty, nor without toil, neither does he get
into, nor get up from them where he desires, when he desires,
and as long as he desires; there is this possibility that
indolence coming over him should perturb those attainments.
Such a person is said to be of perturbable nature.
4. What sort of person is one of imperturbable nature ?
Here a person obtains the attainment (of -ecstatic-trance)
whether accompanied by an idea of form or by an idea of
formlessness, and he surely obtains them as he desires, without
difficulty or toil, and he gets into and gets up from them
where he desires, when he desires, and as long as he desires;
there is no occasion and there is no opening that indolence
coming over him should perturb the attainments of that person.
Such a person is said to be of imperturbable nature. Indeed,
all persons who are Ariyas (noble or elect) are of imperturbable
nature in matters of Ariyan emancipation.
5. What sort of person is one of fallible nature ?
Here a person obtains the attainments whether accompanied
by an idea of form or by an idea of formlessness,
and he surely does not obtain them as he desires, nor without
difficulty, nor without toil, neither does he get into nor get
up from them where he desires, when he desires, and as long
as he desires; there is this possibility that indolence coming
over him should cause him to give up his attainments. Such
a person is said to be of fallible nature.
6. What sort of person is one of infallible nature ?
Here a person obtains the attainments whether accompanied
by an idea of form or by an idea of formlessness, and
he surely obtains them as he desires without difficulty and
without toil, and he gets into and gets up from them where,
when, and as long as he desires; there is no occasion and there
is no opening that indolence coming over him should cause
him to give up his attainments. Such a person is said to
be of infallible nature. Indeed all persons who are Ariyas
(noble or elect) are of infallible nature in matters of Ariyan
emancipation.
7. What sort of person is he who is competent in will ?
Here a person obtains the attainments whether accompanied
by an idea of form or by an idea of formlessness, and
he does not surely obtain them as he desires, nor without
difficulty, nor without toil, neither does he get into nor get
up from them where he desires, when he desires, and as long as
he desires; if he follows this up by willing (not to fall away),
he does not fall away from those attainments, if he does not
so will, he does fall away from them. Such a person is said
to be a person who is competent in will.
8. What sort of person is he who is competent in watchfulness ?
Here a person obtains the attainments whether accompanied
by an idea of form or by an idea of formlessness, and
he does not surely obtain them as he desires, nor without
difficulty or toil, neither does he get into nor get up from
them where he desires, when he desires, and as long as he
desires; if he is watchful, he does not fall away from those
attainments; if he is not watchful, he does fall away from
them. Such a person is said to be a person who is competent
in watchfulness.
9. What sort of person is said to be an average person ?
The person whose three fetters have not been put away
and who is not proceeding to put these away—such a
person is said to be an average person.
10. What sort of person is one become of the Ariya family ?
The person who is endowed with those conditions immediately
after which there is the advent of the Ariyan (noble or
elect) nature is said to be one become of the Ariya family.
11 and 12. What sort of person is restrained by fear ?
The seven (kinds of) learners are restrained by fear and
those average persons who observe the precepts: the Arahants
are not restrained by fear.
13. What sort of person is incapable of progress ?
The persons who are covered with the veil of karma,
covered with the veil of evil passions, covered with the veil
of the consequences (thereof), who are devoid of faith, wanting
in desire, are foolish, stupid, incapable of walking along
what is recognised to be the true path in regard to things that
are good: these persons are said to be incapable of progress.
14. What sort of person is capable of progress ?
The persons who are not covered with the veil of karma,
not covered with the veil of evil passions, not covered with
the veil of the consequences (thereof), who have faith, who
have desire, are wise, capable of walking along what is
recognised to be the true path in regard to things that are
good: these persons are said to be capable of progress.
15 and 16. What sort of person is one with determined destiny?
Five (types of) persons (going forward to) bell and those
who hold erroneous views are persons with determined
destiny. Eight (types of) noble persons are persons with
determined destiny. The remaining persons are with undetermined
destiny.
17 and 18. What sort of person is a path-walker ?
The four persons who possess the path are path-walkers.
The four persons who possess the fruition stage are established
in the fruition.
19. What sort of person is he who is ‘ equal-headed ’ ?
The person in whose case no sooner does the termination
of sinful tendencies take place than the life terminates. Such
a person is said to be one who is ‘ equal-headed.’
20. What sort of person is one for whom an aeon endures ?
Should such a person strive for realisation of the fruition
stage of a stream-attainer, and should it then he the time for
the conflagration of the existing aeon, the aeon must not
be burnt up until this person realises the desired state:
this person is said to be one for whom an aeon endures.
All persons who possess the path (of truth as told by Buddha) are such.
21 22. What sort of person is an Ariya ?
The eight (types of) Ariyan persons are the Ariyas. The
remaining persons are not Ariyas.
23-25. What sort of person is a learner ?
The four persons who possess the path and the three persons
who possess the fruition are learners. Arahants are non
learners; the remaining persons are neither learners nor non learners.
26. What sort of person is a master of threefold lore ?
A person having three vijjas(3 Direct Knowledges 1. Previous births
2. Divine sight 3. Elimination of all rebirth causing sins/factors leading
to Arahatship ) is a person endowed with the threefold lore.
27. What sort of person is a possessor of the six super knowledges ?
A person having these is a person endowed with six super knowledges
(supernormal exercise of thought and will i.e. supernatural abilities
1. magical powers 2. divine ear 3. Knower of others thoughts 4. Knowing
previous rebirths 5. Divine sight , clairvoyance 6. knowledge of destruction
of sinful tendencies).
28. What sort of person is a Perfectly Enlightened One (Sam-Buddha)?
Here a certain person who himself thoroughly understands
the truths in regard to doctrines unheard of before, and attains
omniscience therein, as well as mastery over the fruitions(see above)
this sort of person is said to be a Perfectly Enlightened One.
29. What sort of person is enlightened for himself(Pacceka-Buddha) ?
Here a person himself thoroughly understands the truths
in regard to doctrines unheard of before, but attains neither
omniscience nor mastery over the fruitions thereof—this sort
of person is said to be one enlightened for himself.
30. What sort of person is emancipated in both ways ?
Here a person goes on himself experiencing the eight stages
of emancipation, and having seen them through insight, his
sinful tendencies are completely destroyed. This sort of
person is said to be emancipated in both ways.
31. What sort of person is emancipated by way of insight ?
Here a person without experiencing the eight stages of
emancipation but having perceived them through insight,
has his sinful tendencies completely destroyed. This sort of
person is said to be emancipated by insight.
32. What sort of person is an ‘ eye-witness ’ ?
Here when a person lives experiencing the eight stages of
emancipation and having seen them through insight, some
of his sinful tendencies are completely destroyed. This sort
of person is said to be an ‘ eye-witness.’
33. What sort of person is one who has won vision ?
Here a man truly understands that this is suffering, that
this is the genesis of suffering, that this is the cessation of
suffering, and that this is the path leading to the cessation of
suffering. The doctrines promulgated by the Tathagata(Buddha) are
perceived by him through insight as well as practised;
and having seen them through insight, some of his sinful
tendencies are completely extinct. This sort of person is said
to be one who has won vision.
34. What sort of person is emancipated by faith ?
Here a person truly understands that this is suffering,
that this is the origin of suffering, that this is the cessation
of suffering, and that this is the path leading to the cessation
of suffering. The doctrines promulgated by the Tathagata(Buddha)
are perceived by him through insight as well as practised,
and having seen them through insight, some of his sinful
tendencies are completely destroyed, though not in the same
way as in the case of one who has won vision. This sort of
person is said to be one emancipated by faith.
35. What sort of person is ‘ one conforming to the Dhamma ’ ?
The faculty of insight of a person proceeding to realise
the fruition stage of ‘ stream-attaining ’ develops to a large
extent; he cultivates the Noble Path carrying with it insight,
preceded by insight—this sort of person is said to be one
conforming to the Norm. Such a person practising the
fruition stage of a stream-attainer is one conforming to the
Norm, while the same person established in the fruition is one
who has won vision.
36. What sort of person is ‘ one conforming by faith ’ ?
The believing faculty of one proceeding to realise the fruition
stage of a stream-attainer develops to a large extent. He
cultivates the Noble Path carrying with it faith, preceded
by faith—this sort of person is said to be one conforming by
faith. Such a person striving after the fruition stage of
stream-attaining is one conforming by faith; while the same
person established in the fruition is emancipated by faith.
37. What sort of person is he who undergoes re-birth (not
more than) seven times ?
Here a person, having completely destroyed the three
fetters, becomes a ‘ stream-attainer ’ ; he is no more liable to fall
into a woeful state, but is destined to succeed and has enlightenment
as his final end (or aim); he running on and
transmigrating(rebirth) seven times amongst devas and men makes
an end of suffering. Such a person is said to be one not
undergoing re-birth more than seven times.
38. What sort of person is he who transmigrates from
family to (good) family ?
Here a person having completely destroyed the three fetters,
becomes a stream-attainer; he is no more liable to fall into a
woeful state, but is destined to succeed, and has enlightenment
as his final end (or aim); he running on and transmigrating
through two or three (good) families makes an end of
suffering. Such a person is said to be one who migrates
from family to family.
39. What sort of person is ‘ single-seeded ’ ?
Here a person, having completely destroyed the three
fetters, becomes a stream-attainer; he is no more liable to
fall into a woeful state, hut is destined to succeed and has
enlightenment as his final end (or aim); he having returned
to the state of human existence makes an end of suffering.
Such a person is said to be single-seeded.
40. What sort of person is a ‘ once-returner ’ ?
Here a person, having completely destroyed the three
fetters, having weakened passions, hatred and delusion,
becomes a once-returner; coming back once only to this world,
he makes an end of suffering. Such a person is said to be a
once-returner.
41. What sort of person is a ‘ non-returner ’ ?
Here a person, having completely destroyed the five fetters
causing re-birth in the lower worlds, becomes a ‘ being of
apparitional re-birth’ ; attaining the final release in the self same
state, he is not liable to return from that region. Such
a man is said to be a non-returner.
42. What sort of person is one who dies and attains Nirvana
before half the age he should have lived in a Brahma world
expires ?
Here a person, having completely destroyed the five fetters,
causing re-birth into the lower worlds, becomes a being of
apparitional re-birth; attaining the final release in the self-same
state, he is not liable to return from that region; he, either
immediately after his advent, or before reaching the middle
of this span of life, brings forth the Noble Path that so he
may put away the fetters of the higher nature. Such a person
is said to be one who dies and attains Nirvana before half
the age he should have lived in a Brahma world expires.
43. What sort of person is a ‘ term-curtailing decedent ’ ?
Here a person, having completely destroyed the five fetters,
causing re-birth in the lower worlds, becomes a being of apparitional
re-birth, attaining the final release in the self-same state,
not liable to return from that region; he stepping out of the
middle of the span of his life and advancing towards decease
brings forth the Noble Path that so he may put away the
fetters of the higher nature. Such a person is said to be a
‘ term-curtailing decedent.’
44. What sort of person is ‘ automatically decedent ’ ?
Here a person having completely destroyed the five fetters,
causing re-birth in the lower worlds, becomes a being of apparitional
re-birth, attaining the final release in the self-same
state, not liable to return from that region; he automatically
brings forth the Noble Path that so he may put away the
fetters of the higher nature. Such a person is said to be
‘ automatically decedent.’
45. What sort of person is one attaining Nirvana through
strenuous exertion ?
Here a person, having completely destroyed the five fetters,
causing re-birth in the lower worlds, becomes a being of
apparitional re-birth, attaining the final release in the self
same state, not liable to return from that region; he by a
strenuous effort of his will produces the Noble Path with a
view to putting away tbe fetters of the higher nature. Such
a person is said to be one attaining Nirvana through strenuous
exertion.
46. What sort of person is one proceeding upstream to the
Akanittha region ?
Here a person, having completely destroyed the five fetters,
causing re-birth in the lower region, becomes a being of apparitional
re-birth, attaining the final release in the self-same state,
not liable to return from that region; he having deceased
from Aviha (the immobile gods) goes to Atappa (serene gods),
having deceased from Atappa goes to Sudassa (beautiful
gods), having deceased from Sudassa goes to Sudassi (clear
sighted gods), having deceased from Sudassi goes to Akanittha
(the supreme gods), in the Akanittha abode he brings
forth the Noble Path that so he may put away the fetters of
the higher nature. Such a person is said to be one proceeding
upstream to the Akanittha region.
47. What sort of person is a ‘ stream-attainer,' ?
The person whose three fetters have been
put away is said to be a ‘ stream-attainer.’
48. What sort of person is one striving for realisation of the 'stream-attainer'
fruition stage?
The stream-attainer walking/living in realisation of the
fruition stage (Sotapatti-phala-sacchikiriyaya-patipanno) .
A person who works for putting away the three fetters is
one working for realisation of tbe fruition stage of a
‘ stream-attainer ’ ;
49. Once Returner (Sakdagami) ?
The person whose attachment to sensual pleasures and malevolence has
been destroyed is said to be a ‘ once-returner.’
50. What sort of person is one striving for realisation of the ‘ once-returner' fruition stage?
A person who is working for the destruction of attachment
to sensual pleasures and malevolence is one working for
realisation of the fruition stage of a once-returner;
51. Never returner (Anagami) ?
The person whose attachment to sensual pleasures
and malevolence has been entirely put away is said to be a
‘ non-returner.’
52. What sort of person is one striving for realisation of the ‘ non-returner' fruition stage?
A person working for putting away the attachment to
sensual pleasures and malevolence without a residuum is one
working for realisation of the fruition stage of a ‘ non returner.’
53. Araha?
The person whose attachment to form
and the formless, to pride, haughtiness and ignorance has
been entirely put away is said to be an Arahant.
He becomes fully enlightened like Buddha (Arahat / Arahant/ Arihant )
and will never be reborn in any world [but rather will pass away into
the eternal infinitely blissful state of immortality called Nirvana/Nibbana].
This is the final Objective of the path shown by Buddha.
54. What sort of person is one striving for realisation of the Arahant fruition stage ?
A person working for putting away attachment to form
and the formless, to pride, haughtiness, and ignorance
without any residuum is one working for the fruition stage
of Arahantship.