Suddenly or gradually
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At various times in the history of Buddhist philosophy there have been debates about whether enlightenment is attained suddenly or gradually – a rather pointless debate admittedly. The moment of enlightenment is sudden but the process of getting to that stage is gradual. The Buddha said: ‘Little by little and from time to time the wise person should remove his defilements the way a smith removes dross from silver.’ (Dhp.239). In another place he says: ‘Just as the ocean slopes away gradually, tends down gradually without any abrupt precipice, even so this Dhamma and discipline is a gradual doing, a gradual training, a gradual practice. There is no sudden penetration of knowledge.’ (Ud.54).
