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/
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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