Becoming an Arahant (Arhat): The Path to Ultimate Liberation in Buddhism

By Tchiki Davis, M.A., Ph.D.
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The concept of the Arahant (also spelled Arhat) lies at the heart of Buddhist philosophy and practice. To become an Arahant is to attain the highest state of liberation available: freedom from all aspects of the self, both lower self and higher self—the root causes of human suffering.

While enlightenment in Buddhism can be described in many ways, the Arahant represents a being who has walked all four stages of enlightenment to its end and has reached complete liberation (Nibbāna).

In today’s world, the journey toward becoming an Arahant still captivates Buddhist practitioners, scholars, and seekers of personal growth alike. Understanding what this means and how it has been approached throughout history can provide inspiration for anyone interested in deep psychological transformation and spiritual awakening.

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What Does Arahant (Arhat) Mean?

The word Arahant comes from the ancient Pali language, while Arhat is the Sanskrit equivalent. Both mean “worthy one” or “perfected one.” An Arahant is someone who has fully awakened to the truth of existence, realized Nirvana, and eliminated all mental chains (or fetters) that lead to suffering.

Unlike ordinary people who remain trapped in cycles of craving and aversion, the Arahant has uprooted the tendencies that fuel suffering (samsara), allowing them to see, paradoxically, that they are not a being at all. In other words, a realization has been had that they have always been part of the All. According to the early Buddhist teachings preserved in the Pali Canon, the Arahant is characterized by profound wisdom, unshakable equanimity, and deep compassion.

Becoming an Arahant is not about acquiring supernatural powers or escaping the world but about fully seeing reality as it is—it's about seeing past conceptual reality. The Arahant lives as an interconnected part of the Whole, without attachment to ego, status, or desire, embodying freedom in every moment.

The Path to Becoming an Arahant (According to Buddhism)

The Buddha outlined a clear path toward liberation, culminating in Arahantship. This path is not abstract but grounded in psychological transformation and practical training.

1. The Four Noble Truths
The journey begins with recognizing the Buddha’s core teaching: the Four Noble Truths. These truths explain that suffering (dukkha) is inherent in life (i.e., conceptual reality), that suffering arises from craving, resistance, and ignorance, and that suffering can be ended. In Buddhism, the path to its end is called the Noble Eightfold Path.

2. The Ten Fetters
Buddhist psychology describes ten “fetters” (samyojana) that must be broken to reach Arahantship. These include self-identity view, attachment to rituals, sensual desire, ill will, attachment to form and formless objects, conceit, restlessness, and ignorance. The gradual elimination of these fetters marks progress along the path, culminating in the complete freedom of the Arahant.

Stages of Awakening on the Path to Arahantship

Traditional Buddhist teachings describe four stages of awakening, with Arahantship being the final stage. Each stage represents a deeper cutting off of the fetters:

Stream-enterer (Sotāpanna) – The first stage of awakening, where one has seen through the idea of the small separate self, moved beyond habitual routines, and removed doubt that awakening is real.
Once-returner (Sakadāgāmī) – The second stage, where one has significantly weakened desire for external objects and experiences (e.g., money or relationships) and aversion toward external objects and experiences (e.g., someone being a jerk or not getting the job you wanted).
Non-returner (Anāgāmī) – The third stage, where one has weakened attachment to form and formless objects (e.g., the existence of objects or concepts).
Arahant (Arhat) – The final stage, where all fetters have been broken and Nirvana fully realized.

This four-stage model emphasizes that awakening is a process, not an instantaneous transformation. Each step brings profound changes in perception, behavior, and experience.

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Modern Interpretation of The Path to Arahantship

Stage 1
The first stage often begins with a partial dissolution of identity. Here, an individual often realizes they are not simply the body, mind, or personal story, but rather awareness or the higher self. This shift can bring blissful feelings of unity, clarity, and expansion, yet it also initiates cycles of emptiness, grief, and the release of long-buried emotions. Awakening at this level often includes both profound joy and disorienting loss.

Stage 2
In the second stage, attention shifts toward the mechanisms of suffering, revealing how craving and aversion perpetuate pain. As attachments loosen, life feels more free. However, this stage can also bring periods of meaninglessness as old motivations dissolve. Over time, the freedom of living with fewer attachments becomes clearer.

Stage 3
The third stage is marked by the ability to turn directly toward experiences, even difficult or painful ones. This allows deep insights into the nondual nature of reality, where the boundaries between self and other, good and bad, and time and space begin to dissolve. Subtle layers of identity may surface here, and facing them fully often leads to profound breakthroughs.

Stage 4
The final stage, full enlightenment, is the complete dissolution of the separate self (both the lower self and higher self). It is not an extraordinary event but the simple recognition that freedom and peace were always present. Suffering ends, and reality is experienced directly, beyond concepts and dualities.

Psychological Dimensions of Becoming an Arahant

From a psychological perspective, the path to becoming an Arahant can be seen as a process of deconditioning and loss of beliefs. The mind learns to let go of unhelpful patterns such as craving, resistance, and clinging to identity.

Modern psychology can support these teachings. Cognitive-behavioral approaches emphasize shifting distorted thoughts, mindfulness-based therapies encourage present-moment awareness, and acceptance-based methods promote equanimity. These echo the Buddhist insights. However, unlike psychological approaches, which suggest that we change our thoughts and beliefs, awakening involves letting go of thoughts and beliefs—realizing that they were never real to begin with.

It is through this process that the Arahant becomes free from neurotic patterns, compulsive reactivity, and the endless chase for external fulfillment. Without concepts, beliefs, and thoughts guiding them to behave in destructive ways, destructive behavior simply doesn't arise as much anymore.

Common Misconceptions About Arahantship

Although the concept of Arahantship is ancient, it is often misunderstood today.

Myth: An Arahant is detached from the world.
In reality, Arahants live with compassion and presence, not cold detachment. Their freedom allows them to respond to the world without ego or self-centered motives.
Myth: Arahantship is only for monks.
While traditionally associated with monastics, the path is open to anyone. There are no rules or restrictions that prevent us from realizing what we already are.
Myth: Arahants are special beings.
The whole experience of being an arahant is one of interconnectedness and non-separation. There are no 'beings' or 'specialness' anywhere.
Myth: Arahants are always kind and compassionate
Although the Arahant's experience is compassionate, even kindness and compassion are seen to be concepts. There is no "right" action because we can never know where an action will lead. All is simply happening, without any rules. Nirvana is complete freedom.

Arahantship and Nirvana

The state of the Arahant is inseparable from the realization of Nirvana (Nibbāna). Nirvana is not a place but a condition of freedom—the extinguishing of the separate self. An Arahant lives in this state fully, no longer bound to the imaginary rules and concepts that most of us believe are true.

This realization is described in Buddhist texts as “the unconditioned,” “the deathless,” or “the ultimate peace.” For the Arahant, Nirvana is not a future promise but a present reality. It is the allowing of everything to simply be whatever it is.

Why the Arahant Ideal Matters Today

Even if few people aspire to become Arahants, the concept carries profound meaning for modern spiritual seekers and psychology junkies alike. It represents the possibility of complete liberation from suffering—a radical transformation of human consciousness.

In a culture that prizes achievement, consumption, and self-image, the Arahant ideal reminds us that true freedom comes not from accumulation but from letting go. It points toward a life rooted in clarity, truth, and freedom.

The teachings about Arahants also encourage humility: liberation is not about becoming special but about transcending the very idea of self-importance. In this way, the path challenges deeply ingrained cultural habits while offering a timeless vision of human potential.

Final Thoughts on Becoming An Arahant

Becoming an Arahant, or Arhat, is the culmination of "the path"—a complete liberation from all aspects of a separate existence. While it may seem like a distant goal, the process of walking toward it transforms life at every stage. Through mindfulness, insight, and even suffering, one gradually cuts through the fetters, approaching a state of freedom that transcends ordinary human concerns.

Whether viewed through the lens of religion, philosophy, or psychology, the Arahant ideal continues to inspire seekers across cultures and times. It reminds us that the human mind has the potential for profound awakening, and that liberation is not reserved for the few but is a path open to all.

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