Anāgāmī
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- See also:Anāgāmi
the 'Non-returner', is a Noble Disciple (Ariya-puggala) on the 3rd stage of holiness.
There are 5 classes of Non-Returners, as it is said (e.g. Pug. 42-46):
"A being, through the disappearing of the 5 lower Fetters (Samyojana), reappears in a higher World (amongst the devas of the Pure Abodes, Suddhāvāsa), and without returning from that World (into the sensuous sphere) he there reaches Nibbāna.
- (1) "He may, immediately after appearing there (in the Pure Abodes) or without having gone beyond half of the Life-time, attain the holy path for the overcoming of the higher Fetters. Such a being is called 'one who reaches Nibbāna within the first half of the Life' (antarā-parinibbāyī).
- (2) "Or, whilst living beyond half of the lifetime, or at the moment of Death, he attains the holy path for the overcoming of the higher Fetters. Such a being is called 'one who reaches Nibbāna after crossing half the Life-time' (upahacca-parinibbāyī).
- (3) "Or, with exertion he attains the holy path for the overcoming of the higher Fetters. Such a being is called 'one who reaches Nibbāna with exertion' (sasankhāra-parinibbāyī).
- (4) "Or, without exertion he attains the holy path for the overcoming of the higher Fetters. Such a being is called 'one who reaches Nibbāna without exertion' (asankhāra-parinibbāyī).
- (5) "Or, after vanishing from the Heaven of the Aviha-gods (s. Suddhāvāsa), he appears in the Heaven of the unworried (atappa) gods. After vanishing from there he appears in the Heaven of the clearly-visible (sudassa) gods, from there in the Heaven of the clear-visioned (sudassī) gods, from there in the Heaven of the highest (Akanittha) gods. There he attains the holy path for the overcoming of the higher Fetters. Such a being is called 'one who passes up-stream to the highest gods' (uddhamsota-Akanittha-gāmī)."
