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I am asking this question due to this answer.

Is the removal of identity view (sakkāya-diṭṭhi) required before stream entry can be attained? Or would identity view be removed only with the achievement of stream entry?

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To me this question sounds like an example of reification. In my opinion, in real life the numerous factors of Understanding and Liberation develop gradually, supporting each other in lockstep.

The more someone sees through the numerous simplistic assumptions underlying our idea of "self" - the more one can be said to be free from the self-view. In practice the stream-entry is gradual, just like Enlightenment itself (I believe).

The entire maturity model is pretty much a reification - defining clear-cut categories where even the criteria for delineation are not well-defined. This is why in Mahayana we are advised against obsessing over categorization too much, because it can lead to dead-end arguments, but also supports the self-view. On which level am I? - this very question already presupposes existence of "I" that can occupy a level.

I think the whole model is a bit sarcastic on Buddha's part towards the junior students (and Buddha WAS known for his sarcasm) in the spirit of "oooooh, sounds like you still have many more lives to go, brother" etc.

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    I would add that none of it is really relevant to the practice. That only changes once one is an arahant anyway. So, even a sotapanna, sakadagami, anagami (if one would want to use those terms) will continue the practice not different from a so called ordinary person. Mahayana seems so now and then not different from Theravada. Except that the road to enlightenment is gradual, but the moments of reaching a certain state is, well, just a moment. But again, for the practice it doesn't matter. :)
    – user13579
    Commented Jun 18, 2018 at 11:45
  • Very well said!
    – Andriy Volkov ♦
    Commented Jun 18, 2018 at 13:04
  • There is one categorization to me that is clear cut and not subjective. That is becoming an Arya being. What is an Arya being? It is someone who has had a direct realization of emptiness in meditative equipoise. ie., entering the first bhumi.
    – user13375
    Commented Jun 18, 2018 at 14:50
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    Upon reflection, this does make sense to me. In fact, steadfast adherence to the rigidity of the maturity model and the strict definitions of every stage may even be part of the fetter of grasping at habits and practices (sīlabbata-parāmāsa). This is supported by MN 78 and Snp 4.9. So, the zen-like sarcastic part is that the student follows the definitions of the four stages rigidly till he overcomes the fetter of sīlabbata-parāmāsa, then discards it.
    – ruben2020 ♦
    Commented Jun 18, 2018 at 15:07
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Sakkhaya Ditti is eradicated as a result of attaining stream entry. It's wrong to say that it is required to remove the identity view before attaining stream entry. Read the detailed answer given here by venerable Yuttadhammo.

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    Two thumbs up! :)
    – user13579
    Commented Jun 18, 2018 at 14:42
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Stream entry is a label to concisely announce that the person has the usual 3 characteristics of ''stream entry'', with what you call the lack of ''sakkāya-diṭṭhi'' being one of those.

If you want to know what the lack of ''sakkāya-diṭṭhi'' is all about, which has nothing to do with being an expert on dependent origination like it is written on another thread on this website, you can read https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn22/sn22.089.than.html and his statements like

"In the same way, friends, it's not that I say 'I am form,' nor do I say 'I am other than form.' It's not that I say, 'I am feeling... perception... fabrications... consciousness,' nor do I say, 'I am something other than consciousness.' With regard to these five clinging-aggregates, 'I am' has not been overcome, although I don't assume that 'I am this.'

that's all there is to the lack of ''sakkāya-diṭṭhi'' . the lack of ''sakkāya-diṭṭhi'' is itself a label regrouping all the statements in this quote.

I you want to now what ''''sakkāya-diṭṭhi'''' is all about, since you are a puthujjana, you already naturally regards the ''5 aggregates'' as ''I am this'' and even more stupid from you, you turn that into a ''I am'', typically by regarding as and calling them ''mine''. You have been doing this for many years already, so no need to explain more. Once you no longer regard any aggregate as ''mine'' you can claim that you lack ''sakkāya-diṭṭhi''.

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SN 22.122 states that meditation over five grasping aggregates is a continuos process. It applies to all , stream enterer, once returner, non returner and the perfect one. Meditating on five grasping aggregates leads to the fruit of stream enterer, once returner, non returner and perfection. I answered a similar question here. Although nothing is left for the perfect one to achieve,eradication of self view is a desired meditation even for the perfect one.

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