The Buddha expands on stream-entry, stating that a disciple must discern as they truly are the arising, passing away, gratification, drawback, and escape in regard to the five faculties.

SN 48.3  Dutiya sotāpanna sutta - Stream-Enterer (Second)

“Pañcimāni, bhikkhave, indriyāni. Katamāni pañca? Saddhindriyaṁ, vīriyindriyaṁ, satindriyaṁ, samādhindriyaṁ, paññindriyaṁ.

“|Bhikkhus,::::| there are these five faculties. What five? The |faculty of faith::mental faculty of confidence, conviction, trust [saddhindriya]|, the |faculty of energy::mental faculty of willpower, determination [vīriya]|, the |faculty of mindfulness::mental faculty of awareness, presence [satindriya]|, the |faculty of collectedness::mental faculty of stability of mind, mental composure [samādhindriya]|, and the |faculty of wisdom::mental faculty of discernment [paññindriya]|.

Yato kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako imesaṁ pañcannaṁ indriyānaṁ samudayañca atthaṅgamañca assādañca ādīnavañca nissaraṇañca yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako sotāpanno avinipātadhammo niyato sambodhiparāyaṇo”ti.

When|, bhikkhus,::::| a disciple of the Noble Ones discerns |as they truly are::as they have come to be, in reality [yathābhūta]| the |arising::appearance, origination [samudaya]|, the |passing away::disappearance, vanishing, subsiding [atthaṅgama]|, the |gratification::satisfaction, pleasure, enjoyment, sweetness [assāda]|, the |drawback::disadvantage, unsatisfactoriness, inadequacy, danger [ādīnava]|, and the |escape::way out, remedy [nissaraṇa]| in regard to these five faculties—this disciple of the Noble Ones|, bhikkhus,::::| is called a |stream-enterer::A stream-enterer is an individual who has attained the first stage of awakening, having completely abandoned the three fetters: 1) personal existence view - identity view, belief in a self, 2) doubt or perplexity regarding suffering, its arising, its ending, and the way of practice leading to the end of suffering, and 3) adherence to rules and observances as a means of liberation [sotāpanna]|, not liable to states of suffering, fixed in destiny, |with full awakening as his destination::culminating in enlightenment [sambodhiparāyaṇa]|.”

Topics & Qualities:

Discernment

Discernment

Clear seeing that distinguishes what is wholesome from unwholesome, true from false.

Also known as: ability to make out distinctions, ability to discriminate, distinguish, clear seeing, penetrating internal vision
Pāli: viveka, nipaka, niccheyya
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Perceiving drawback

Perceiving drawback

The contemplative perception that discerns the danger, inadequacy, and unsatisfactoriness of conditioned pleasures, leading the mind to turn away from clinging.

Also known as: observing the disadvantage, contemplating the unsatisfactoriness
Pāli: ādīnavānupassī
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Perceiving escape

Perceiving escape

The contemplative perception that recognizes the way out of bondage after understanding gratification and danger, seeing cessation of an unsatisfactory experience as its true escape.

Also known as: observing the release, seeing the way out, contemplating the remedy, recognizing the way leading beyond suffering
Pāli: nissaraṇānupassī, nissaraṇaṁ yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti
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Perceiving gratification

Perceiving gratification

The contemplative perception that focuses on the attractive or pleasurable aspect of experience, fueling delight and attachment to sense pleasures.

Also known as: following pleasure, seeing enjoyment, sign of beautiful
Pāli: assādānupassī
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Recognition of impermanence

Recognition of impermanence

Perceiving all conditioned things as unstable and transient. This recognition weakens attachment by revealing the continual arising and ceasing of phenomena, turning the mind toward wisdom and release.

Also known as: perception of impermanence, perception of instability, realization of transience
Pāli: aniccasaññā
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Stream Entry

Stream Entry

The first stage of awakening, where one overcomes the fetters of 1.) personal existence view: view of being someone, that one is an embodied being, 2.) doubt or perplexity regarding suffering, its arising, its ending, and the way of practice leading to the end of suffering, and 3.) adherence to rules and observances as a means of liberation. One who has entered the stream is no longer bound for the lower realms, is fixed in destiny, and is bound for full awakening. The four factors of stream-entry are: 1.) association with persons of integrity, 2.) hearing the true teaching, 3.) wise attention, and 4.) practice in accordance with the Dhamma.

Also known as: entering the stream, fruition of stream-entry
Pāli: sotāpatti, sotāpanna
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Last updated on June 5, 2026