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1. I feel my life has lost meaning and, contrary to the wishes of my family, friends & employer, I decide to travel around the world searching for the meaning of life. This is an example of acquisition of individual character based on my intentions alone.

2. I feel my life has lost meaning & think about travelling around the world searching for the meaning of life. However, my family, friends & employer oppose my idea and my employer offers to double my salary if I stay home & continue working for them. Against my deeper wishes, I follow the wishes of my employer & family. This is an example of acquisition of individual character based on the intentions of others.

3. I feel my life has lost meaning and, contrary to the wishes of my family, friends & employer, I decide to travel around the world searching for the meaning of life. In my travels, I visit a monastery and a benevolent teacher of Dhamma offers me detailed instructions and properly supervises me as his student. I devote my mind to following the instructions of the benevolent teacher & my mind enters the Path and finds satisfaction. This is an example of acquisition of individual character based on the intentions of both myself and another (the teacher).

4. My mind enters the jhanas and the mental faculty of intention is suspended. The five lower faculties are eradicated and the mind is spontaneously arisen as a Non-Returner. This is an example of acquisition of individual character based on the neither the intentions of both myself and another (the teacher).

1. I feel my life has lost meaning and, contrary to the wishes of my family, friends & employer, I decide to travel around the world searching for the meaning of life. This is an example of acquisition of individual character based on my intentions alone.

2. I feel my life has lost meaning & think about travelling around the world searching for the meaning of life. However, my family, friends & employer oppose my idea and my employer offers to double my salary if I stay home & continue working for them. Against my deeper wishes, I follow the wishes of my employer & family. This is an example of acquisition of individual character based on the intentions of others.

3. I feel my life has lost meaning and, contrary to the wishes of my family, friends & employer, I decide to travel around the world searching for the meaning of life. In my travels, I visit a monastery and a benevolent teacher of Dhamma offers me detailed instructions and properly supervises me as his student. I devote my mind to following the instructions of the benevolent teacher & my mind enters the Path and finds satisfaction. This is an example of acquisition of individual character based on the intentions of both myself and another (the teacher).

4. My mind enters the jhanas and the mental faculty of intention is suspended. The five lower fetters are eradicated and the mind spontaneously arises as a Non-Returner. This is an example of acquisition of individual character based on the neither the intentions of both myself and another (the teacher).

The passage in the question is also found in AN 4.171. The translation in the questions appears highly questionable. In the passage are the Pali words:

• SN 55.1 about obtaining the four factors of stream-entry;

• AN 8.2 about obtaining the wisdom fundamental to the holy life;

• AN 4.171 about acquiring individual character (attabhava);

• MN 106 about obtaining equanimity;

• SN 42.8 about acquiring a view;

• Dhp 333 about acquisition of wisdom.

I recall a different answer to his type of question was given by the internet poster named Andriy Volkov.

The passage in the question is also found in AN 4.171. The translation in the question appears highly questionable. In the passage are the Pali words:

• SN 55.1 about obtaining the four factors of stream-entry;

• AN 8.2 about obtaining the wisdom fundamental to the holy life;

• MN 106 about obtaining equanimity;

• SN 42.8 about acquiring a view;

• Dhp 333 about acquisition of wisdom.

I recall a different answer to his type of question was given by the different internet poster named Andriy Volkov.

Maurice Walshe translates as:

Bhikkhu Bodhi translates as:

Maurice Walshe translates as:

I recall a different answer to his type of question was given by the internet poster named Andriy Volkov.