Page 145 - The Buddha‘s Noble Eightfold Path

point of Stream-entry, or of non regression or irreversibility — or

even of Perfect Vision, at least in its rudimentary form.

Points 1 , 2 and 3 thus divide the hypotenuse of our triangle into
four sections, so that including the two points or angles marked,
respectively, by the symbols for zero and infinity, there are five

points in all. Going up the hypotenuse from left to right, zero
represents the starting-point of the whole evolutionary process.

In terms of physics, this starting-point is the subatomic particle;
for biology, it is the amoeba. Point 1 represents the stage at
which human consciousness emerges, point 2 the stage at which

self-consciousness or awareness emerges (most of us are still a
little below this point, though some are a little above it), and

point 3 the stage at which Transcendental awareness, in the
sense of awareness of Reality, emerges. This last is the stage of
conversion in the true sense. It is the Point of No Return. The

symbol for infinity at the top of the hypotenuse represents
Nirvana, Enlightenment, or Buddhahood.

The middle four points, i.e. points 1 , 2 and 3 divide the
hypotenuse into four sections, marked not by numbers but by

letters. Section A represents what may be described as the infra-
human stage of evolution and comprises the mineral and

vegetable kingdoms and the animal kingdom exclusive of man.
Section B represents the human stage, both primitive and
civilized. (Some may ask on what grounds the civilized is regarded

as higher than the primitive, but we won't go into that now.)
Stage C represents what we may call the ultra-human stage of

evolution. It is at this stage that the arts and sciences, and culture
and the lower religions, are found. Finally, section D represents

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