Arahant

The word "Arahant" was not coined by the Buddha but was current even before he appeared on the Indian religious scene. The word is derived from a verb arahati, meaning "to be worthy," and thus means a person who is truly worthy of veneration and offerings. Among Indian spiritual seekers in the Buddha's time, the word was used to denote a person who had attained the ultimate goal, for this is what made one worthy of veneration and offerings. Sutavan, a Paribbajaka (wanderer) once visited the Buddha on Griddhkuta and questioned him regarding the description of an Arahant. (AN 9.7 PTS: A iv 369)



To this the Buddha replied,

An arahant monk whose mental fermentations are ended, who has reached fulfillment, done the task, laid down the burden, attained the true goal, totally destroyed the fetter of becoming, and who is released through right gnosis, cannot possibly transgress these nine principles.


• It is impossible for a monk whose mental fermentations are ended to intentionally deprive a living being of life


• It is impossible for a monk whose mental fermentations are ended to take, in the manner of stealing, what is not given


• It is impossible for a monk whose mental fermentations are ended to engage in sexual intercourse


• It is impossible for a monk whose mental fermentations are ended to tell a conscious lie


• It is impossible for a monk whose mental fermentations are ended to consume stored-up sensual things as he did before, when he was a householder.


• It is impossible for a monk whose mental fermentations are ended to follow a bias based on desire


• It is impossible for a monk whose mental fermentations are ended to follow a bias based on aversion


• It is impossible for a monk whose mental fermentations are ended to follow a bias based on fear


• It is impossible for a monk whose mental fermentations are ended to follow a bias based on delusion.



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