I would encourage everyone to read Piya Tan’s Layman Saint.
Laymen Saint is a good article written by Piya Tan who explained the differences between being a monastic and a lay follower.
In the early Buddhist text, it was recorded that the lay followers’ duty was not only to support the monastic sangha, but also to learn and practise the Dhamma.
In the Suttas, the Buddha often mentioned the attainment of the lay followers. They were stream enterers, once-returners and non-returners which are on par with the monastics.
What about Lay Arhat?
I have browsed and read through the comments from Sutta central, Dhamma wiki, Reddit and other Buddhist forums. Interestingly, some lay people are positive and agree the attainment of lay Arhat is possible, while 99% of the monastics would say not possible.
The comments given was if a lay person is to attain Arhatship, he or she would die immediately or would have to enter the monastic sangha. Please take note that this is not spoken by the Buddha. It was just a comment!
Below was one of Piya’s quote taken from the Buddha’s teachings:
Monks, whether for a lay person or for one gone forth, I praise the right way. Whether it is a lay person or one gone forth who is practising rightly, because of undertaking the right way of practice, he attains the true way (ñāya), the wholesome Dhama. And what, monks, is that right way? It is the noble eightfold path… This, monks, is called the right way.
Monks, whether for a lay person or for one gone forth, I praise the right way. Whether it is a lay person or one gone forth is practising rightly, because of undertaking the right view of practice, he attains the true way, the wholesome Dhamma. (S 45.24/5:18 f)
Piya ended with the below quote from Dhammapada:
Though well adorned [finely clad], if he fares in calmness,
At peace, tamed, self-controlled, living the holy life,
Having put down the rod towards all beings—
He is a brahmin, he is a recluse, he is a monk. (Dh 142; Kvu:SR 157 f)
To read more, please click Layman Saint.
Piya Tan’s Sutta translation can be found here.
As one progresses and meditates with Dhamma knowledge, our mind is often tilted towards the meditative mind. The mind that understood and experienced(meditation) the Buddha’s teachings.
I believe a lay person can attain Arhatship if all conditions are fulfilled!
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