Stage

Name

Description

1

Dry Insight

Worldly wisdom unfertilized by the inner spiritual work of Buddhism; it includes
A. Sila - The Precepts of Morality; A moral code of conduct
B. Samatha - Five Techniques for quieting and subduing the mind; meditations on breathing, impurity, kindness & compassion, causality, and sensory perception.
C. Vipasyana - Observation of The Four Spheres of Mindfulness, generally (all together) and separately considering them in terms of impurity, suffering, impermanence & selflessness

2

Embryonic Stage of the Buddha Nature

The beginning stages of inner spiritual cultivation & insight meditation, which includes the Four Good Roots (S. Kusala Mula), which are
A. The Warming (S.usmagata) - the cognitive and affective functions of the mind focus solely on The Four Truths in meditation and self-reflection
B. The Peak Experience (S. murdhan) - Attaining a deep revelation about the Four Truths - this is the last stage at which a backsliding is possible, but it is also a moment when one realizes that there are further peaks ahead
C. Spiritual Endurance (S. ksanti) - One gets past the revelation experience and endures in the work of lasting insight meditation on the Four Truths
D. The Highest in the World (S. laukikagrata) - Attaining the highest mundane knowledge about the Four truths - a result of fully realizing the meaning of the Sixteen Aspects of the Four Truths.

3

The Eighfold Endurance

Endurance in the Cultivation of Meditation that turns into Wisdom, in 2 parts:
A. The Fourfold Endurance in Dharma (Spirituality) -
One cultivates enduring observation of the Four Truths to eradicate the false views that occur during meditation in the Realm of Desire.
B. The Fourfold Endurance in Order -
One cultivates enduring observation of the the Four Truths to eradicate the false views that occur during meditation in the Realms of Form and Formlessness.

4

Freedom From False Views

The final eradication of false views

5

Freedom from Weakness

Eradication of the more basic kinds improper motives such as greed, hatred, conceit & ignorance

6

Freedom from Desire

Eradication of the more subtle forms of improper motives including desire, anger, pride & ignorance

7

Already Discerning

Arhat - Views and Motives are always true and correct

8

Pratyekabuddha

Spiritually self-awakened

9

Bodhisattva

Spiritually awakened but remaining in this world to help save others - the path to enlightenment

10

Buddha

The Spiritual Enlightenmen