The same graduated scale already met at SN 48.12-14, but with the single “non-returner” level expanded into five traditional sub-types
Length
<1 minute to read
Northern parallel
No individual parallel confirmed by this project's own check
Significance
★★★★☆ — the canon's own classic five types of non-returner, distinguished by name for the first time in this vagga
Why this discourse
This discourse's own title, “In Detail” (vitthāra), contrasts directly with the three preceding “In Brief” (saṅkhitta) discourses (SN 48.12-14): rather than naming “non-returner” as a single level, it breaks that stage into the canon's own classic five sub-types, expanding the earlier six-level scale into nine distinct levels of attainment.
Reading guide
Five kinds of non-returner, named individually
Confirmed by direct reading, this discourse names five distinct sub-types of non-returner in descending order: one extinguished between one life and the next (antarāparinibbāyī), one extinguished upon landing (upahaccaparinibbāyī), one extinguished without extra effort (asaṅkhāraparinibbāyī), one extinguished with extra effort (sasaṅkhāraparinibbāyī), and one who heads upstream to the Akaniṭṭha realm (uddhaṁsoto akaniṭṭhagāmī) — the canon's own classic fivefold division of this single stage.
A nine-level scale, not the earlier six
This project's own direct comparison confirms this discourse's own scale has NINE levels total (arahant, five sub-types of non-returner, once-returner, stream-enterer, follower of teachings, follower by faith), genuinely more detailed than the six-level scale shared by SN 48.12, 48.13, and 48.14.
"In Brief" and "In Detail" -- the same principle, two resolutions
Confirmed by direct reading, both this discourse and the three preceding “In Brief” discourses rest on the SAME underlying principle — the five faculties' own progressively weaker degree marking off distinct levels of attainment — differing only in how finely that single stage of non-return is resolved.
Key terms
antarāparinibbāyī — “one extinguished between one life and the next” — the highest of the five non-returner sub-types, attaining final extinguishment in the intermediate state
upahaccaparinibbāyī — “one extinguished upon landing” — the second sub-type, attaining extinguishment soon after rebirth
asaṅkhāraparinibbāyī / sasaṅkhāraparinibbāyī — “one extinguished without / with extra effort” — the third and fourth sub-types, distinguished by the presence or absence of additional effort
uddhaṁsoto akaniṭṭhagāmī — “one who heads upstream, going to the Akaniṭṭha realm” — the fifth and lowest sub-type, journeying through successive pure abodes to the highest one
vitthāra — “in detail” — this discourse's own title term, contrasting with “saṅkhitta” (“in brief”) at SN 48.12-14
The text
The complete discourse. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
§1“Mendicants, there are these five faculties. What five? The faculties of faith, energy, mindfulness, immersion, and wisdom. These are the five faculties. Someone who has completed and fulfilled these five faculties is a perfected one. If they are weaker than that, they’re one who is extinguished between one life and the next … one who is extinguished upon landing … one who is extinguished without extra effort … one who is extinguished with extra effort … one who heads upstream, going to the Akaniṭṭha realm … a once-returner … a stream-enterer … a follower of teachings … a follower by faith.”
· · ·
Self-check quiz
3 questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.
Question 1 of 3
How does this discourse's own scale differ from SN 48.12-14's own six-level scale?
Correct: A. Genuinely more detailed, matching this discourse's own title, "In Detail."
Question 2 of 3
What are the five sub-types of non-returner named in this discourse?
Correct: A. The canon's own classic fivefold division of the non-returner stage.
Question 3 of 3
What underlying principle do this discourse and the earlier "In Brief" discourses share?
Correct: A. Differing only in how finely the single stage of non-return is resolved.
