Who and How are the 7 types of Noble Persons?

The Blessed Buddha once explained:
Monks, there are seven types of noble persons existing in the world. What seven?

1: The one freed both ways (ubhato-bhāga-vimutta),
2: The one freed by understanding (paññā-vimutta),
3: The direct experience body-witness (kāya-sakkhī),
4: The one having won view and vision (ditthippatta),
5: The one freed by faith (saddhāvimutta),
6: The follower of Dhamma (dhammānusārī),
7: The follower of faith (saddhānusārī).

And how, monks, is the person freed Both Ways?
As to this, monks, some person is dwelling, having directly experienced with both body and
mind those peaceful mental releases, which are formless, and having seen by understanding
all his mental fermentations are utterly eliminated. He is freed both ways and has done
what should be done! He can therefore never become negligent ever again...

And how, monks, is the person freed by Understanding?
As to this, monks, some person is dwelling, without having directly experienced with both body
and mind those peaceful mental releases, which are formless, yet having seen by understanding
all his mental fermentations are utterly destroyed. He is freed by understanding and has done
what should be done. He can therefore never become negligent ever again...

And how monks, is the person who is a Body-Witness?
As to this, monks, some person is dwelling, having indeed directly experienced with both body
and mind those peaceful mental releases, which are formless, yet having seen by understanding
only some of his mental fermentations are fully annihilated. He is a body-witness and he has still
something to do. If he trains hard, lives remote with good friends, & balances his mental abilities,
then he may realise here & now, by his own super-knowledge, that matchless goal of the Noble
Life for which young men of good family go forth into homelessness, entering into and remaining
in it, he might dwell in the bliss of that sublime fruit...

And how monks, is the person who has Won View and Vision?
As to this, monks, some person is dwelling, without having directly experienced with both body
and mind those peaceful mental releases, which are formless, but having seen by understanding
only some of his mental fermentations are utterly eradicated. However, those things explained
by the Tathāgata  are fully understood & fully practised by him. He has won view & vision, but
has still something to do. If he trains hard ... then he might come to dwell in the sublime fruit.

And how monks, is the person who is Freed by Faith?
As to this, monks, some person is dwelling, without having directly experienced with both body
and mind those peaceful mental releases, which are formless, but having seen by understanding
only some of his mental fermentations are utterly eradicated. But his faith in the Tathāgata  is
settled, fixed, genuine, & established. This, monks, is called a person, who is Freed by Faith, but
he has still something to do. If he trains hard ... then he might come to dwell in the sublime fruit.

And how monks, is the person who is Striving for and following after Dhamma?
As to this, monks, some person is dwelling, without having directly experienced with both body
and mind those peaceful mental releases, which are formless, and although having seen some by
understanding his mental fermentations are not yet utterly destroyed! Furthermore: All those
things explained by theTathāgata  are still only moderately approved of and practiced by him...
However, he possesses the ability of faith, energy, awareness, concentration, & understanding!
This, monks, is called the person, who is striving for Dhamma, but he has still something to do.
If he trains hard ... then he might come to dwell in the sublime fruit.

And how monks, is the person who is Striving for and following after Faith?
As to this, monks, some person is dwelling, without having directly experienced with both body
and mind those peaceful mental releases, which are formless, and although having seen some by
understanding his mental fermentations are not yet utterly destroyed, but he has enough faith
in the Tathāgata, enough affection for the Buddha to develop his mental ability of faith, energy,
awareness, of concentration, & of understanding. This, monks, is called the person, who is striving
out of Faith, but he has still something to do. If he trains hard ... then he will come to dwell in the
supreme fruit in the future.

I, monks, do not say that the attainment of profound knowledge suddenly comes straightaway!
Gaining final knowledge is achieved gradually through steady progress by study, and meditation..

Source: Majjhima Nikāya 70. May this Way by our one-pointed effort become swift!

The Noble Person Shines Uniquely of Pure Good! 

More on Buddhist Personality Classification:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Human_Types.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_7_Persons.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Nine_Supremes.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Four_Personalities.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Ideal_Person.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_9_Supremes_Explained.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_4_Persons_similar_to_Trees.htm