| Chapter 1: | The Pāli Nikāyas |
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The scheme of the four paths and fruits seems to combine the distinct paths that will be discussed in this chapter. In this scheme, there are elements pertaining to idealized persons and the primal religious experiences of the tradition’s inaugural exemplars, as well as elements of a practical path aimed at the elimination of spiritual obstacles.
With regard to the types of noble persons that will be discussed in the next two chapters, figure 1 should help to clarify how they fit into the scheme of the four paths and fruits:
Figure 1. Noble persons and the scheme of the four paths and fruits.
