The Arhats in China and Japan

Abstract

In Theravada Buddhism the Buddha himself is first named as an Arahat, as were his enlightened followers, since he is free from all defilements, without greed, hatred, and delusion, rid of ignorance and craving, having no "assets" that will lead to a future birth, knowing and seeing the real here and now. This virtue shows purity, true worth, and the accomplishment of the end, Nibbana. In the Pali canon, Ven. Ānanda states that he has known monastics to achieve Nibbana in one of four ways: developing insight preceded by serenity; developing serenity preceded by insight; developing serenity and insight in a stepwise fashion; and when one's mind is seized by excitation about the Dhamma and, as a consequence, develops serenity and abandons the fetters.