Arahant

Meaning

Arahant means “worthy one” or “liberated one.” A person who has completely destroyed the defilements of the mind, put an end to suffering, and will not be reborn, having broken the fetters of samsara. In early Buddhism (Theravada), this is the ideal of personal liberation and the goal of practice.

Doctrinal context

The stages of the path to arahantship:

• Sotapanna (“stream-enterer”) - the first level of awakening.
• Sakadagami (“once-returner”) - the second level.
• Anagami (“non-returner”) - the third level.
• Arahant - the completion of the path, full liberation.

Key aspects:

• End of suffering: completely free from dukkha, creating no new kamma.
• Insight: an arahant, like the Buddha, is awakened to the true nature of things. The difference is that the Buddha discovered the path independently, while the arahant follows it.
• Life in the world: although free from dukkha and passions and no longer subject to rebirth, the arahant continues to live in the world until final physical death, acting from wisdom and compassion.

Practical significance

In Mahayana, the arahant ideal gives way to that of the bodhisattva, who strives for the liberation of all sentient beings and therefore remains in samsara. However, in the Pali Canon, the arahant is the embodiment of wisdom and compassion.