How does the Noble 8-fold Way makes one Noble?
Having cultivated the
Noble 8-fold Way, a being might enter the stream,
which leads to Nibbāna! The Stream-Enterer (Sotāpanna) is
entirely freed
from rebirth as Animal, Hungry Ghost, Angry Demon & Burning Hell Being!
Such Noble One (Ariya) will be enlightened within maximally 7
rebirths...
The Stream-Enterer has eliminated all egoism, belief in a 'person' or
'self',
eradicated all 'I-making' & 'Mine-making', abolished all sceptical doubt in
the perfect Self-Enlightenment of the Buddha, & removed silly superstitious
belief in any benefit of empowerments and empty rituals. Such Noble have
by direct momentary experience touched and tasted the deathless Nibbāna
and is forever hereafter independent of any Dhamma-teacher...
Having cultured the
Noble 8-fold Way even further, a being might attain the
state of a Once-Returner (Sakadāgāmi), who is reborn only once as
human or
lower god (deva) and then awakens in that next life! Such Noble has
further
reduced sense-desire and aversion...
Having yet further
refined the Noble 8-fold Way, a being might attain the
state of a Non-Returner (Anāgāmi), who is reborn in the higher fine
material
worlds - The Pure Abodes - where they live for many universal cycles & there
attain Nibbāna without ever returning to the human or lower divine
worlds...
Such Noble has furthermore entirely eliminated sense-desire and aversion!
Having fully
perfected the Noble 8-fold Way one awakens as an Arahat, who
is enlightened in this very life, by elimination of all remaining mental
defects
such as desire for fine form and formlessness, the subtle conceit that 'I
am',
latent tendency to restlessness and all ignorance. Such Noble One enters at
the moment of death the freedom, bliss & peace of Nibbāna without
trace of
clinging left...
