Who and How are the Seven types of Noble Persons?


The Blessed Buddha once explained:
Monks, there are seven types of noble persons existing in the world. What seven?

1: The one freed both ways (ubhato-bhāga-vimutta),
2: The one freed by understanding (paññā-vimutta),
3: The direct experience body-witness (kāya-sakkhī),
4: The one having won view and vision (ditthippatta),
5: The one freed by faith (saddhāvimutta),
6: The follower of Dhamma (dhammānusārī),
7: The follower of faith (saddhānusārī).

And how, monks, is the person freed Both Ways?
As to this, monks, some person is dwelling, having directly experienced with both body and
mind those peaceful mental releases, which are formless, and having seen by understanding
that all his mental fermentations are utterly eliminated: He is freed both ways, and has done
what should be done! He can therefore never become negligent ever again...

And how, monks, is the person freed by Understanding?
As to this, monks, some person is dwelling, without having directly experienced with both body
and mind those peaceful mental releases, which are formless, yet having seen by understanding
that all his mental fermentations are utterly destroyed: He is freed by understanding, and has
done what should be done. He can therefore never become negligent ever again...

And how monks, is the person who is a Body-Witness?
As to this, monks, some person is dwelling, having indeed directly experienced with both body
and mind those peaceful mental releases, which are formless, yet having seen by understanding
only some of his mental fermentations are fully annihilated. He is a body-witness, and he has still
something to do. If he trains hard, lives remote with good friends, and balances his mental abilities,
then he may realise here and now, by his own super-knowledge, that matchless goal of the Noble
Life for which young men of good family go forth into homelessness, entering into and remaining
in it, he might dwell in the bliss of that sublime fruit...



And how monks, is the person who has Won View and Vision?
As to this, monks, some person is dwelling, without having directly experienced with both body
and mind those peaceful mental releases, which are formless, but having seen by understanding
only some of his mental fermentations are utterly eradicated. However, those things explained
by the Tathāgata  are fully understood and fully practised by him. He has won view and vision,
but has still something to do. If he trains hard ... then he might come to dwell in the sublime fruit.

And how monks, is the person who is Freed by Faith?
As to this, monks, some person is dwelling, without having directly experienced with both body
and mind those peaceful mental releases, which are formless, but having seen by understanding
only some of his mental fermentations are utterly eradicated. But his faith in the Tathāgata  is
settled, fixed, genuine, and established. This, monks, is called a person, who is Freed by Faith, but
he has still something to do. If he trains hard ... then he might come to dwell in the sublime fruit.

And how monks, is the person who is Striving for and following after Dhamma?
As to this, monks, some person is dwelling, without having directly experienced with both body
and mind those peaceful mental releases, which are formless, and although having seen some by
understanding his mental fermentations are not yet utterly destroyed! Furthermore: All those
things explained by the Tathāgata are still only moderately approved of, and practiced by him...
However, he possesses the ability of faith, energy, awareness, concentration, and understanding!
This, monks, is called the person, who is striving for Dhamma, but he has still something to do.
If he trains hard ... then he might come to dwell in that sublime fruit.

And how monks, is the person who is Striving for and following after Faith?
As to this, monks, some person is dwelling, without having directly experienced with both body
and mind those peaceful mental releases, which are formless, and although having seen some by
understanding his mental fermentations are not yet utterly destroyed, but he has enough faith
in the Tathāgata, enough affection for the Buddha to develop his mental ability of faith, energy,
awareness, of concentration, and of understanding. This, monks, is called the person, who is striving
out of Faith, but he has still something to do. If he trains hard ... then he will come to dwell in that
supreme fruit in the future.

I, monks, do not say that the attainment of profound knowledge suddenly comes straightaway!
Gaining final knowledge is achieved gradually through steady progress by study, and meditation..


These 7 Noble Persons Shine Uniquely of Pure Good! 

More on Buddhist Personality Classification:
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Human_Types.htm
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Nine_Supremes.htm
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Four_Personalities.htm
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Ideal_Person.htm
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_9_Supremes_Explained.htm
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_4_Persons_similar_to_Trees.htm

Source: Majjhima Nikāya 70. May this Way by our one-pointed effort become swift!
https://what-buddha-said.net/library/ati_website/html/tipitaka/mn/mn.070.than.html