I recently came across a Facebook post by someone claiming that the enlightened no longer meditate. They quoted scriptures to support this view, arguing that because a stream-winner (Sotapanna) has removed the clinging to rites and rituals—and because they view formal sitting as a ritual—a Sotapanna therefore does not meditate.

I think that is a complete misunderstanding.

Foremost, even the Buddha himself rested in meditation and remained constantly in Jhana/Samadhi. This is the most telling clue for those of us who are still unawakened.

For us, the stilling of the mind requires a great deal of effort. Our meditation often feels tiresome, much like trying to plug a massive hole where water is gushing out non-stop. Therefore, the entire process of sitting in formal meditation can feel like a ritual or rites. But for awakened beings, the mind is no longer grasping at sensory stimulants. Thus, it is already at an optimal state of rest. In other words, the meditative state is the nature of their minds – they remain in constant / regular meditation.

For a Sotapanna, the grasping has not been completely removed, but they have experienced non-self. The habitual grasping at sensory stimulants is still there, and when that grasping is strong, the experience of a “self” solidifies. It is heavy, and we lose the lightness of non-self. The contrast between the pain of grasping versus the lightness of non-grasping becomes a direct experience.

Consequently, a Sotapanna will naturally tune their mind to loosen their grasping. Just as any of us would instinctively recoil from a burning heat and avoid being hurt.

Therefore, it isn’t correct to say a Sotapanna will stop meditating. Instead, they have the awareness to try and loosen their “grasping” throughout. We know that some Sotapanna need seven lifetimes to finally loosen it further, while some of them progress more speedily within this lifetime and move on to the next stage of awakening.

As for explaining the ritual and rites part, we need to ask a simple question that we all can understand. But before that, we should reflect: what are the rituals that we engage in every day for self-worth and ego-preservation?

It can be as simple as grabbing a coffee-to-go at your favorite cafe; failing to do so might give you the sense that you are not quite yourself, and your day will not be a happy one. That is a ritual. It is not limited to religious rites; it is any habit that we perform to strengthen or comfort our sense of self. Stuff that safeguards self-worth, self-interest, etc. Naturally, for a religious person, this includes rituals, rites, and so on.

But for a Sotapanna who has experienced no-self, all of these things become meaningless. It is not that he or she cannot engage in them, but there is no longer any meaning or motivation found in them. And if they do engage in their standard activities, like grabbing their favorite coffee, the strength of their grasping determines the heaviness/lightness of their state of being.

As for formal sitting in meditation, it is just an exercise for conditioning the mind to be less busy. A Sotapanna will stillengage in it and practice it to help the mind transcend further. Just like we will still bathe and shower after enlightenment, won’t we?

May all be well and happy.