Question

What do you mean with being partly enlightened?

Answer

Partly enlightened, according to the teachings of Theravadin Buddhism, there are four levels of enlightenment. The first level is "Stream-Entry", the Pali term for this is "Sotopanna". It is said that, at this level of enlightenment, doubt about the Dhamma no longer ever arises in the mind. Which is good as the first stage, isn't it? Because if you don't have any doubt, then your practice will become much easier. They are also no longer attached to any rights and rituals as a means to purify the mind, that is they don't think that if they ring a bell so many times it will enlighten the mind. Or, if they do this ritual or that ritual, it is going to enlighten the mind. So they are not attached to rights and rituals as a means to purify the mind. And they have an insight into the non-personal quality of self.

That's the first stage of enlightenment and at this stage it becomes impossible for them to go against basic Buddhist morality, the Five Precepts. So if a person says they are enlightened, but you see that they are either: killing living beings, stealing, having sexual misconduct, lying, or taking intoxicants which confuse the mind, then you can know that they are not enlightened in the Theravadin Buddhist term of enlightenment.

The second stage of enlightenment, in Theravadin Buddhism, is a "Once-Returner". A Once-Returner means that they will come back to the human realm only once again before becoming fully-enlightened. And, they have reduced sense desire and aversions, so that these particular hindrances have become very, very weak in the mind.

The third stage of enlightenment is termed a "Non-Returner". That is they will no longer come back to the human realm after they die. They will become enlightened in a special realm of Non-Returners. According to the scriptures, at that time the mind is free from all sense desire and aversion, along with doubt which went before.

The fourth and final stage of enlightenment in Theravadin Buddhism is termed an "Arahant", fully-enlightened. In this stage the mind is purified from all the impurities including greed, hatred and ignorance.

Our apologies if there are any errors in the above text. If anything seems to be wrong or confusing in any way, please feel free to contact the teachers for further clarification.