Can anyone clear up the following seeming contradiction in Buddhist teachings? On the one hand, there is a lot of talk about the countless lifetimes it takes to arrive at nibbana. This was particularly drilled into us in the Goenka tradition. 1/
On the other hand, in the Satipatthana Sutta the Buddha says the following: [QUOTE]
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Verily, monks, whosoever practices these four foundations of mindfulness in this manner for seven years, then one of these two fruits may be expected by him: highest knowledge (arahantship) here and now, or if some remainder of clinging is yet present, the state of non-returning.
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O monks, let alone seven years. Should any person practice these four foundations of mindfulness in this manner for six years... five years... four years... three years... two years... one year, then one of these two fruits may be expected by him: highest knowledge...
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O monks, let alone a year. Should any person practice these four foundations of mindfulness in this manner for seven months... six months... five months... four months... three months... two months... a month... half a month, then one of these two fruits may be expected by him...
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O monks, let alone half a month. Should any person practice these four foundations of mindfulness in this manner for a week, then one of these two fruits may be expected by him: highest knowledge here and now... [/QUOTE]
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Obviously, this may likely be dependent on one being able to actually practice mindfulness without distraction for an entire week straight, with a little more distraction for half a month, etc.
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But it's not impossible by any means to become an arhat in a very short time, let alone in a single lifetime, according to this view. What gives?
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And why is it considered so hard to believe someone who proclaims to be an arhat? OF COURSE there are more charlatans than genuine arhats, but it's not like it's totally wild to imagine that somebody who has been practicing for years and years actually jumped off the wheel.
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