Friends:

  Which things can enable the realization of Stream-Entry?

  Bhikkhus & friends, these four states, when developed & made much of
  leads to the realization of the fruit of Stream-Entry (sottapatti-phala)!
  Which four ?
  Meeting, frequenting, listening to & waiting on pure & truly great men.
  Hearing, reading & reflecting on the true ideas of the Saddhamma.
  Practice in accordance with this original & genuine Saddhamma.
  Continuous, careful & rational Attention thereto...

  These 4 states, when developed & made much of leads to the fruition
  of Once-Return (anagami-phala)!
  These 4 states, when developed & made much of leads to the fruition
  of Never-Return (sakadagami-phala)!
  These 4 states, when developed & made much of leads to the fruition
  of Arahat-ship, Awakening, final Enlightenment (arahatta-phala)!

  Bhikkhus & friends, these four states, when developed & made much of
  leads directly to the reaching, attaining & realizing of Understanding;
  To the state of Awakening of Understanding;
  To the state of Wealth of Understanding;
  To the state of Great Understanding;
  To the state of Open Understanding;
  To the state of Wide Understanding;
  To the state of Profound Understanding;
  To the state of Deep Understanding;
  To the state of Unequalled Understanding;
  To the state of Universal Understanding;
  To the state of Extensive Understanding;
  To the state of Quick Understanding;
  To the state of Instant Understanding;
  To the state of Light Understanding;
  To the state of Laughing Understanding;
  To the state of Discriminative Understanding;
  To the state of Penetrative Understanding  
  What four ?
  Meeting, frequenting, listening to & waiting on pure & truly great men.
  Hearing, reading & reflecting on the true ideas of the Saddhamma.
  Practice in accordance with this original & genuine Saddhamma.
  Continuous, careful & rational Attention thereto...

  So is it verily... It is not otherwise!

  Comments:
  Having entered the stream, one have maximum 7 lives to Enlightenment.
  Stream-Entrants cannot be reborn as animal, ghost, demon nor in the Hells.
  Once-returners come back here as humans once, and then awakens here.
  Never-returners never returns to here, but is reborn as high brahma deva.
  Arahats is not reborn at death, but enters the stilled happiness of Nibbana...

  Source: The Path of Discrimination XXI The Patisambhidamagga [ii 189]
  The Essay on Great Understanding. By Venerable Sariputta.
  http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=133494

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 Bhikkhu Samahita, Sri Lanka.

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