<p><strong>How many levels of enlightenment are there?</strong></p>

<p>I think it depends on the school, which defines and describes enlightenment.</p>

<ul>
<li><p>You mentioned that Theravada defines four stages.</p></li>
<li><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bh%C5%ABmi_(Buddhism)" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Wikipedia</a> says that Mahayana defines Five Paths and Ten Bhumis.</p></li>
<li><p>"Kundalini awakening " is (I think) generally seen as Hinduism rather than Buddhism.</p></li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-07T03:28:27.907Z
In the Suttas what is meant by "ujun kayan panidhaya parimukhan satin upatthapetva" is the "Kundalini Awakening" state when one enters into a Jhana state.
Saptha Visuddhi
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-04T07:33:55.933Z
2017-10-04T07:33:55.933Z
ChrisW
<p>4 Stages to reach Arahat is like the major milestones in traditional way using self power.  Even great Zen masters can't reach Arahat.  That's why most enlightened Zen masters in China turn to practice Pureland at the end of their life because they realize they cannot possibly escape Samsara in this life time.
If you're a person of great capacity, any path out of 84000 will liberate you.  Buddha states that in the Age of the Right Dharma, one can obtain liberation through keeping the precepts.   Age of Semblance Dharma: liberation through Zen meditation.   Degenerate Age: liberation through Pureland practice. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-20T03:31:43.837Z
2017-10-21T12:26:39.770Z
2017-10-21T12:26:39.770Z
Justin D
<p>I have experienced enlightenment multiple times.</p>

<p>I have found many religions have a similar way of describing it, though they can differ about how many experiences occur and if they are sudden or spread apart over long periods of time. </p>

<p>I have also heard it referred to as
 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Kundalini" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Kundalini</a> Awakening where it is a process that can take years to go through the 7 stages.</p>

<p>According to this article there are <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_stages_of_enlightenment" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Four stages of enlightenment</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p><strong>My question is this, How many levels or layers of enlightenment are there? Does it happen all at once?</strong></p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-04T10:27:18.930Z
Why isn't the wikipeda answer enough? Isn't it clearly listed down there?
Sankha Kulathantille
<theravada><enlightenment><meditation-effects><bodhisattva>
How many levels of enlightenment are there?
# How many levels of enlightenment are there?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-10-04)

I have experienced enlightenment multiple times.

I have found many religions have a similar way of describing it, though they can differ about how many experiences occur and if they are sudden or spread apart over long periods of time.

I have also heard it referred to as
[Kundalini](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Kundalini) Awakening where it is a process that can take years to go through the 7 stages.

According to this article there are [Four stages of enlightenment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_stages_of_enlightenment)

> **My question is this, How many levels or layers of enlightenment are there? Does it happen all at once?**

**Tags:** theravada, enlightenment, meditation-effects, bodhisattva

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Why isn't the wikipeda answer enough? Isn't it clearly listed down there?  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2017-10-04. Score: 0

**How many levels of enlightenment are there?**

I think it depends on the school, which defines and describes enlightenment.

* You mentioned that Theravada defines four stages.
* [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bh%C5%ABmi_(Buddhism)) says that Mahayana defines Five Paths and Ten Bhumis.
* "Kundalini awakening " is (I think) generally seen as Hinduism rather than Buddhism.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: In the Suttas what is meant by "ujun kayan panidhaya parimukhan satin upatthapetva" is the "Kundalini Awakening" state when one enters into a Jhana state.  

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### Answer by username_4 on 2017-10-20. Score: -1

4 Stages to reach Arahat is like the major milestones in traditional way using self power. Even great Zen masters can't reach Arahat. That's why most enlightened Zen masters in China turn to practice Pureland at the end of their life because they realize they cannot possibly escape Samsara in this life time.
If you're a person of great capacity, any path out of 84000 will liberate you. Buddha states that in the Age of the Right Dharma, one can obtain liberation through keeping the precepts. Age of Semblance Dharma: liberation through Zen meditation. Degenerate Age: liberation through Pureland practice.


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