Q: What fetters must be destroyed in order to reach the state of stream entry?
The fetters are self view or identity view, doubt and grasping at precepts and practices.
And which are the five lower fetters? Self-identity views,
uncertainty, grasping at precepts & practices, sensual desire, & ill
will.
AN 10.13
"In this community of monks there are monks who, with the wasting away
of [the first] three fetters, are stream-winners, steadfast, never
again destined for states of woe, headed for self-awakening: such are
the monks in this community of monks.
MN 118
Q: Is it possible to reach the state of stream entry in this very life?
Yes, if one meets certain prerequisites.
Someone with five qualities is able to enter the sure path with
regards to skillful qualities when listening to the true teaching.
What five? They don’t disparage the talk, the speaker, or themselves.
They’re wise, bright, and clever. They don’t think they know what they
don’t know. Someone with these five qualities is able to enter the
sure path with regards to skillful qualities when listening to the
true teaching.”
AN 5.152
Someone with five qualities is able to enter the sure path with
regards to skillful qualities when listening to the true teaching.
What five? They don’t listen to the teaching bent only on putting it
down. They don’t listen to the teaching with a hostile, fault-finding
mind. They’re not antagonistic to the teacher, and not planning to
attack them. They’re wise, bright, and clever. And they don’t think
they know what they don’t know. Someone with these five qualities is
able to enter the sure path with regards to skillful qualities when
listening to the true teaching.”
AN 5.153
Also, one must not have committed the five incurable actions (AN 5.129).
"There are these five inhabitants of the states of deprivation,
inhabitants of hell, who are in agony & incurable. Which five? One who
has killed his/her mother, one who has killed his/her father, one who
has killed an arahant, one who — with a corrupted mind — has caused
the blood of a Tathagata to flow, and one who has caused a split in
the Sangha. These are the five inhabitants of the states of
deprivation, inhabitants of hell, who are in agony & incurable."
AN 5.129
Q: Do I need to renounce worldly life in order to reach stream entry?
No.
Lay followers can attain stream entry and higher levels of jhana. An example is Citta, the householder. You can read about him in SN 41.
“But how is a wise lay follower defined?”
“It’s when a lay follower is wise. They have the wisdom of arising and
passing away which is noble, penetrative, and leads to the complete
ending of suffering. Then they’re considered to be a wise lay
follower.”
SN 55.37
But it's unlikely to go beyond stream entry as a lay person, except at their deathbed (see SN 55.54).
Q: Can I keep functioning in society by earning bread, and paying my EMI and still reach stream entry?
Yes, if one takes the right effort.
Q: How will I know that I have reached stream entry once I am there?
Please read "Is stream entry an unmistakeable experience?".
Q: Is there a list of instructions that, once followed, will surely take me to the state of stream entry?
AN 10.92 lists out the criteria for stream entry:
- Five forms of fear and animosity are stilled (basically the five precepts)
- Four factors of stream entry
- Rightly seen and rightly ferreted out the noble method (dependent origination)
And also:
“Sāriputta, they speak of a ‘factor of stream-entry’. What is a factor
of stream-entry?”
“Sir, the factors of stream-entry are associating with good people,
listening to the true teaching, proper attention, and practicing in
line with the teaching.”
SN 55.5
Please read "Into the Stream" by Ven. Thanissaro and also watch the YouTube video talk "Characteristics of a Sotapanna" (by Ven. Dhammavuddho).
The video talk discusses SN 55.5 in detail.
