^8:2 The normal road to the Buddhist ideal after conversion is divided into four successive stages, called the cattaro magga or 'four paths.' The first of these is that trodden by the sotapanno (one 'who has entered the stream' which flows down to the ocean of Nirvana), who is assured of ultimately reaching his goal but has first to undergo seven more existences none of which can be in a state of suffering; the second path is that trodden by the sakadagami, the disciple whose imperfections have been, so far eradicated that he has only to 'return' to a human-form once more before attaining Nirvana; the third path is that of the anagami, the disciple who will 'not return' to earth, but will attain the goal from a Brahma realm; whilst the fourth and last is Arahatship, which is Nirvana. Each of these four stages is further subdivided into two sub-stages, the lower called 'the path,' and the higher 'the fruit.' (See Maha-parinibbana Sutta and the commentary thereon of the Sumangala Vilasini'.)

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