sotapanna-puggala

Buddhism

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July 14, 2026

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In Theravada Buddhism, a sotapanna-puggala is a "stream-winner" or "stream-enterer". This individual has achieved the first of four stages of holiness on the path to becoming an arhat. A sotapanna-puggala has overcome false beliefs and doubts about the Buddha, his teachings, and the Buddhist community. They have experienced the initial insights of nirvana and are guaranteed to reach final enlightenment, or nibbana, within a maximum of seven more rebirths. This stage signifies a profound shift, marking the beginning of the end of the cycle of death and rebirth, known as samsara.123

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ariya-puggala
…of holy person, called a sotapanna-puggala (“stream-winner”), is one who will attain nibbana (Sanskrit nirvana)—release (moksha) from the cycle of death and rebirth (samsara), the supreme goal of Buddhist practice—after no more than seven rebirths. Another type of holy person is termed a sakadagamin (“once-returner”), or one who is
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…of holy person, called a sotapanna-puggala (“stream-winner”), is one who will attain nibbana (Sanskrit nirvana)—release (moksha) from the cycle of death and rebirth (samsara), the supreme goal of Buddhist practice—after no more than seven rebirths. Another type of holy person is termed a sakadagamin (“once-returner”), or one who is
Read More