List of self-proclamed Arahants?

Zen Poetry, modified 23 Days ago at 1/23/25 9:39 AM
Created 23 Days ago at 1/23/25 9:39 AM

List of self-proclamed Arahants?

Posts: 13 Join Date: 12/20/24 Recent Posts
Hey. It would be of value of me to have a list of around 10 self-proclamed Arahants.

Thus far, I only got Daniel Ingram and Bill Hamilton emoticon

Would anybody enlighten me?

I would prefer Arahants who have done serious contribution in the community; e.g: writen books or given formal workshops and lessons.
thumbnail
Daniel M Ingram, modified 23 Days ago at 1/23/25 12:18 PM
Created 23 Days ago at 1/23/25 11:37 AM

RE: List of self-proclamed Arahants?

Posts: 3297 Join Date: 4/20/09 Recent Posts
Yes, Arahants are cheaper in sets of 10, so definitely get the party pack when available, see caveat below.

As to people who have declaired this, well, the DhO does have its share of people who have asserted these sorts of things over the years, but they will have to chime in themselves if they are still in that sort of mood and mode.

Of the perhaps 20 or so people I personally know and who I think of as possibly being arahats and have some at least moderate degree of confidence in, most, are closeted, not public, largely owing to the online experiences of persons such as myself when they were rash enough to go public.

I also know of a few who have said that they think their realization is like what I describe in MCTB1/2, but that they call it by some other name or don't call it anything at all, but, again, these have nearly all been private conversations.

There are also those, such as Christopher Titmuss, that formally do not use the 4 path system, but have said things like, "This Christopher is not suffering," to make of what you will, or signalled through other means, other titles, hats, subtle signs, hints, innuendos, portents, and winks that they have some sort of high-level realization, however ambiguously classified, but decyphering those sorts of coded messages is no longer that interesing to me.

As a curiosity, what do you hope to do with your party pack of arahants? One must consider the maintenance, upkeep, kenneling and feed costs, pen cleaning, as well as vet bills, liability insurance, etc., as those add up. ;)
thumbnail
Chris M, modified 23 Days ago at 1/23/25 4:13 PM
Created 23 Days ago at 1/23/25 4:13 PM

RE: List of self-proclamed Arahants?

Posts: 5644 Join Date: 1/26/13 Recent Posts
This request made me laugh.
thumbnail
Papa Che Dusko, modified 23 Days ago at 1/23/25 5:55 PM
Created 23 Days ago at 1/23/25 5:55 PM

RE: List of self-proclamed Arahants?

Posts: 3397 Join Date: 3/1/20 Recent Posts
I will be your Arahat if you are paying for the drinks! emoticon 
Zen Poetry, modified 22 Days ago at 1/24/25 10:19 AM
Created 22 Days ago at 1/24/25 10:17 AM

RE: List of self-proclamed Arahants?

Posts: 13 Join Date: 12/20/24 Recent Posts
> As a curiosity, what do you hope to do with your party pack of arahants? One must consider the maintenance, upkeep, kenneling and feed costs, pen cleaning, as well as vet bills, liability insurance, etc., as those add up. ;)

HAHAHAH I laughed so hard at this! 

> I will be your Arahat if you are paying for the drinks! emoticon 

I certainly would pay a drink or multiple for anybody who's reached Nirvana in life emoticon

Now regarding my request, it would be useful for me to know the works and contributions of self-proclaimed arahants for referencing in some of my own writing (I am making no claims to any attainements with this statement, which might be read in between the lines)

MCTB was my first contact with formal Theravada Meditation and, ever since digging through some of the books, specially books that are recommended in it, the topic of self-proclamation got my attention. 

Obviously I have a decent (or not so decent, since I made this request?) idea that I am stepping into muddy territory, much as Bill Hamilton describes in Saints and Psychopaths, chapter Etiquette of Enlightenment.

That said, to return to the essence of the post, it would be useful if you could share your currrent personal lists of "this might be an Arahant". My present list only contains two, and I am humbled that one has replied!!

@danielmingram @chrismarti @che

However, if you still feel what I am asking for is absolutely bananas, feel free to just have had a laugh and call it a day. In any case, thank you so much <3
thumbnail
Chris M, modified 22 Days ago at 1/24/25 10:26 AM
Created 22 Days ago at 1/24/25 10:22 AM

RE: List of self-proclamed Arahants?

Posts: 5644 Join Date: 1/26/13 Recent Posts
What you're asking is for people to violate the confidence and trust of those who they believe might meet your criteria. (This is why you're getting these kinds of responses). Frankly, this request makes me wonder about your motives.

Daniel Ingram already said this to you:
​​​​​​​
As to people who have declaired this, well, the DhO does have its share of people who have asserted these sorts of things over the years, but they will have to chime in themselves if they are still in that sort of mood and mode.

Of the perhaps 20 or so people I personally know and who I think of as possibly being arahats and have some at least moderate degree of confidence in, most, are closeted, not public, largely owing to the online experiences of persons such as myself when they were rash enough to go public.
Adi Vader, modified 22 Days ago at 1/24/25 10:26 AM
Created 22 Days ago at 1/24/25 10:26 AM

RE: List of self-proclamed Arahants?

Posts: 420 Join Date: 6/29/20 Recent Posts
How bout you tell us ur plan of how you intend to attain to full and complete unbinding.

​​​​​​​That would be a nice convo.
thumbnail
Martin V, modified 22 Days ago at 1/24/25 12:01 PM
Created 22 Days ago at 1/24/25 12:01 PM

RE: List of self-proclamed Arahants?

Posts: 1091 Join Date: 4/25/20 Recent Posts
I don't think what you are asking is necessarily prima facie bananas. If you want to read the writings of people who have written publically in the role of arhats, that's not weird. You might try Arahattamagga Arahattaphala: The Path to Arahantship, and other works by Ajaan Maha Boowa Nanasampanno. Then there is that Siddhartha guy, as well :-)

I was thrown off by the wording "it would be of value to me." It seems to say, I have a secret purpose, which I am not willing to share. I got a similar vibe from "it would be useful for me to know the works and contributions of self-proclaimed arahants for referencing in some of my own writing." Again, it sounds like you are making a point of concealing your purpose. 
thumbnail
Chris M, modified 22 Days ago at 1/24/25 2:40 PM
Created 22 Days ago at 1/24/25 2:40 PM

RE: List of self-proclamed Arahants?

Posts: 5644 Join Date: 1/26/13 Recent Posts
I was thrown off by the wording "it would be of value to me." It seems to say, I have a secret purpose, which I am not willing to share. I got a similar vibe from "it would be useful for me to know the works and contributions of self-proclaimed arahants for referencing in some of my own writing." Again, it sounds like you are making a point of concealing your purpose. 

Well said, Martin, and I agree.
thumbnail
Jure K, modified 21 Days ago at 1/25/25 5:34 AM
Created 21 Days ago at 1/25/25 5:34 AM

RE: List of self-proclamed Arahants?

Posts: 503 Join Date: 9/8/20 Recent Posts
Someone once asked for a list of Buddha's and they were all dead within a week. Cause of death was metaphorical crucifixtion via YouTube.
thumbnail
Bahiya Baby, modified 21 Days ago at 1/25/25 2:57 PM
Created 21 Days ago at 1/25/25 2:54 PM

RE: List of self-proclamed Arahants?

Posts: 1025 Join Date: 5/26/23 Recent Posts
Hah, imagine this was untangled Jedi bikkhus covert way of curating a hit list for his 2025 YouTube content. 

​​​​​​​emoticon

​​​​​​​In my experience the easiest way to determine who is and isn't an Arhat is repeated dialogue and discussion over the course of many months or even years. A lot can be learned that way.
thumbnail
Papa Che Dusko, modified 20 Days ago at 1/26/25 5:57 PM
Created 20 Days ago at 1/26/25 5:57 PM

RE: List of self-proclamed Arahants?

Posts: 3397 Join Date: 3/1/20 Recent Posts
It goes faster with a foot smelling test! Apparently, Arahat's feet smell of strawberries! 
thumbnail
Matt Jon Rousseau, modified 6 Days ago at 2/9/25 12:03 PM
Created 6 Days ago at 2/9/25 12:03 PM

RE: List of self-proclamed Arahants?

Posts: 263 Join Date: 5/1/22 Recent Posts
Martin V:
I don't think what you are asking is necessarily prima facie bananas. If you want to read the writings of people who have written publically in the role of arhats, that's not weird. You might try Arahattamagga Arahattaphala: The Path to Arahantship, and other works by Ajaan Maha Boowa Nanasampanno. Then there is that Siddhartha guy, as well :-) I was thrown off by the wording "it would be of value to me." It seems to say, I have a secret purpose, which I am not willing to share. I got a similar vibe from "it would be useful for me to know the works and contributions of self-proclaimed arahants for referencing in some of my own writing." Again, it sounds like you are making a point of concealing your purpose. 
      
I just reqd that book. Nice lil meditation  journal. I hate to hijack this thread but did Boowa claim ahrantship?
thumbnail
Martin V, modified 6 Days ago at 2/9/25 12:31 PM
Created 6 Days ago at 2/9/25 12:31 PM

RE: List of self-proclamed Arahants?

Posts: 1091 Join Date: 4/25/20 Recent Posts
Oh, yeah. Like twice a day. 
thumbnail
Matt Jon Rousseau, modified 6 Days ago at 2/9/25 1:25 PM
Created 6 Days ago at 2/9/25 1:25 PM

RE: List of self-proclamed Arahants?

Posts: 263 Join Date: 5/1/22 Recent Posts
I guess the tittle of his book could be an indication  of his claim.  I'm a little slow sometimes 

Breadcrumb