<p>There're a few different interpretations of the word Gotrabhu, which Ven. Bodhi commented to AN 9.10 in his "<a href="http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/1614290407" rel="nofollow">Numerical Discourses</a>":</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>"Gotrabhu. In his translation of Vism, where the word is used in a technical sense, Nanamoli renders it “change-of-lineage” (see Vism 672–75, Ppn 22.1–14). Mp explains this person—in accordance with the exegetical scheme of the commentaries—as “one with a mind of powerful insight that has reached the peak, the immediate condition for the path of stream-entry.” Mp is here referring to the gotrabhu mind-moment in the cognitive process (cittavithi) of the path, the mental event that immediately precedes sotapattimaggacitta, the mind-moment of the path of stream-entry. Since this scheme is relatively late and presupposes the Abhidhamma theory of the cognitive process, it is unlikely to reveal the original meaning of gotrabhu. In the Nikayas, the word occurs infrequently. In the present sutta it seems to mean simply a virtuous monk or nun who has not reached the path of stream-entry. We find the plural form at MN 142.8, III 255,6–7: “But in the future, Ananda, there will be clan members, with ochre [robes around] their necks, immoral people, of bad character” (bhavissanti kho pan’ananda, anagatamaddhanam gotrabhuno kasavakAttha dussila papadhamma). In the latter passage it has a pejorative sense, referring to those who show merely the outer marks of a monastic without worthy inner qualities."</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-08T21:25:56.887Z
How we can translate this text in plain English? Does it means the automatic and spontaneous change of focus (after the 6 Purifications) in the knowing & seeing of the meditator (from a worldly 'sensorial' view to the transcendental view, after which he reaches path entry; i.c. becomes 'sotapanna')?
Guy Eugène Dubois
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-09T16:00:03.473Z
But what you just defined doesn't sound as "plain" as the Mp's definition in Ven. Bodhi's note above although it seems to point to the same direction..
santa100
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-09T17:43:42.810Z
Anyway, it's not easy. I'm sure you have to 'experience' it. Thanks.
Guy Eugène Dubois
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-08T19:00:04.487Z
2015-01-08T19:00:04.487Z
santa100
<p>How you can explain in plain English the change of focus (from <em>puthujjana</em> to <em>ariya</em>) that takes place in this stage of insight?</p>

<vipassana><terminology><meditation-insight>
Meaning of Gotrabhu in plain English
# Meaning of Gotrabhu in plain English

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-01-08)

How you can explain in plain English the change of focus (from *puthujjana* to *ariya*) that takes place in this stage of insight?

**Tags:** vipassana, terminology, meditation-insight


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-01-08. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

There're a few different interpretations of the word Gotrabhu, which Ven. Bodhi commented to AN 9.10 in his "[Numerical Discourses](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/1614290407)":

> "Gotrabhu. In his translation of Vism, where the word is used in a technical sense, Nanamoli renders it “change-of-lineage” (see Vism 672–75, Ppn 22.1–14). Mp explains this person—in accordance with the exegetical scheme of the commentaries—as “one with a mind of powerful insight that has reached the peak, the immediate condition for the path of stream-entry.” Mp is here referring to the gotrabhu mind-moment in the cognitive process (cittavithi) of the path, the mental event that immediately precedes sotapattimaggacitta, the mind-moment of the path of stream-entry. Since this scheme is relatively late and presupposes the Abhidhamma theory of the cognitive process, it is unlikely to reveal the original meaning of gotrabhu. In the Nikayas, the word occurs infrequently. In the present sutta it seems to mean simply a virtuous monk or nun who has not reached the path of stream-entry. We find the plural form at MN 142.8, III 255,6–7: “But in the future, Ananda, there will be clan members, with ochre [robes around] their necks, immoral people, of bad character” (bhavissanti kho pan’ananda, anagatamaddhanam gotrabhuno kasavakAttha dussila papadhamma). In the latter passage it has a pejorative sense, referring to those who show merely the outer marks of a monastic without worthy inner qualities."

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: How we can translate this text in plain English? Does it means the automatic and spontaneous change of focus (after the 6 Purifications) in the knowing & seeing of the meditator (from a worldly 'sensorial' view to the transcendental view, after which he reaches path entry; i.c. becomes 'sotapanna')?  
> **username_1**: But what you just defined doesn't sound as "plain" as the Mp's definition in Ven. Bodhi's note above although it seems to point to the same direction..  
> **username_0**: Anyway, it's not easy. I'm sure you have to 'experience' it. Thanks.  

---

