In the suttas, we read about the noble ones (*ariya*) and the disciples of the noble ones (*ariyasavaka*). Who are the noble ones? Do they include only the four persons who are the stream enterers, once-returners, never-returners and arahants? Or do they also include the four persons trying to achieve stream entry, once-returnership, never-returnership and arahantship? Together, the eight form the noble sangha. Who are the disciples of the noble ones? Do they include the four persons trying to achieve stream entry, once-returnership, never-returnership and arahantship? Is there any overlap between the two? References from the Pali Canon on this is appreciated.

Should every monastic unconditionally be considered a noble one, and treated as such, to abstain from bad kamma at the very least? or are lay people, and other monastics, free to use personal judgement based on the personal qualities, or lack thereof, of a given monastic? If the latter, then am I free to verbally express my concern/blame, without producing excessively bad kamma? For example due to not agreeing with the way the Dhamma is presented, or timing thereof, or not agreeing with the arrogant attitude of the monk, or pointing out flaws in the behavior/methods/views of that monk?

Below is from Ariyapariyesana Sutta > "Monks, there are these two searches: ignoble search & noble search. > And what is ignoble search? There is the case where a person, being > subject himself to birth, seeks [happiness in] what is likewise > subject to birth. Being subject himself to aging... illness... > death... sorrow... defilement, he seeks [happiness in] what is > likewise subject to illness... death... sorrow... defilement. > > "And what may be said to be subject to aging... illness... death... > sorrow... defilement? Spouses & children... men & women slaves... > goats & sheep... fowl & pigs... elephants, cattle, horses, & mares... > gold & silver **[<a href="/redirect?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.accesstoinsight.org%2Ftipitaka%2Fmn%2Fmn.026.than.html%23fn-2" class="external-link" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">[2] <i class="fas fa-external-link-alt fa-xs"></i></a>][2] ** are subject to aging... illness... death... > sorrow... defilement. Subject to aging... illness... death... > sorrow... defilement are these acquisitions, and one who is tied to > them, infatuated with them, who has totally fallen for them, being > subject to birth, seeks what is likewise subject to aging... > illness... death... sorrow... defilement. This is ignoble search. > > "And what is the noble search? There is the case where a person, > himself being subject to birth, seeing the drawbacks of birth, seeks > the unborn, unexcelled rest from the yoke: Unbinding. Himself being > subject to aging... illness... death... sorrow... defilement, seeing > the drawbacks of aging... illness... death... sorrow... defilement, > seeks the aging-less, illness-less, deathless, sorrow-less, undefiled, > unexcelled rest from the yoke: Unbinding. This is the noble search. When this is closely read, it seems the word Birth which is relevant to Buddha's noble search (and this comes in the first Noble Truth of Dukkha as well) is not about birth from a mother -- because if it is, then how come the gold & silver are there? Although [this footnote 2](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.026.than.html#fn-2) says ... > The Burmese, Sri Lankan, and PTS editions of the Canon exclude gold and silver from the list of objects subject to illness, death, and sorrow, apparently on the grounds that they themselves do not grow ill, die, or feel sorrow. ... however it's not excluded in Sri Lankan editions of the Canon, no it is not. And who can do such a change? Only Buddha or Arhat only can understand this totally, isn't it? And in the last paragraph, it's very clear that noble search is concluded to unexcelled rest from the yoke: Unbinding. Is it unbinding from birth? Yes (because that's told). But birth of what? it's not the someone's birth is it? It should be birth of Yoke. And this yoke is generated on the mentioned objects (Spouses & children... men & women slaves... goats & sheep... fowl & pigs... elephants, cattle, horses, & mares... gold & silver) thinking they are worth or nice. Then what we should think: Birth is dukkha, or Yoke is dukkha? Because birth, ageing or death can be a pleasurable things for some people, while some other people suffer (Dukkha) on that (e.g. death of a terrorist is not a suffer, birth of a baby is not a suffer to his parents, ageing is not a suffer to 17 years old boy...) What do you think, am I mistaken on this? If so please explain why the gold & silver is there? And why Birth, Age, Death are treated as Dukkha?

The Abhidhamma seems to talk only in terms of eradications. According to the Abhidhamma the following defilements are eradicated (different list than the fetters): - by Sotāpanna: wrong view, avarice, envy, doubt; - by Sakadāgāmi: nothing; He 'just' eliminates grosser forms of lust, hatered and delusion; - by Anāgāmi: sensual greed; hatred and worry; - by Arahant: delusion, shamelessness, fearlessness of wrong, restlessness, greed (other), conceit, sloth and torpor. With other words: once eradicated those emotions will never ever show up in ones mind. So far, so good. I'm interested now in the following: What doe the sutta's say about the characteristics of the Noble Ones? The Abhidhamma, for instance, tells me that a Sotāpanna can't break the 5 precepts anymore. This is one characteristic one could look for then. Are there more? What are noticeable characteristics of the other stages? So, what does this all mean practically? Okay, a Sotāpanna doesn't break the precepts. What about a Sakadāgāmi? Does this elimination of grosser forms mean (s)he never has sex? Does an Arahant not yawn, because (s)he has eradicated sleepiness? So, I'm not really interested in the list of the fetters. But more in the characteristics by which Noble Ones could be recognised. Like the not breaking of the 5 precepts by the Sotāpanna. This answer , for instance, is not what I'm looking for. Edit: In case I wasn't clear, I'm looking for characteristics noticeable by others. So, not internal ones only noticeable for the person in question. Thanks. :)