The four stages of awakening in Early Buddhism and Theravada are four progressive stages culminating in full awakening (Bodhi) as an Arahant.
These four stages are Sotāpanna (stream-enterer), Sakadāgāmi (once-returner), Anāgāmi (non-returner), and Arahant. The oldest Buddhist texts portray the Buddha as referring to people who are at one of these four stages as noble people (ariya-puggala) and the community of such persons as the noble sangha (ariya-sangha).
The teaching of the four stages of awakening is a central element of the early Buddhist schools, including the Theravada school of Buddhism, which still survives.
The First stage: A "Stream-enterer" (Sotāpanna) is free from:
1. Identity view (Pali: sakkāya-diṭṭhi), the belief that there is an unchanging self or soul in the five impermanent skandhas
2. Attachment to rites and rituals
3. Doubt about the teachings
The second stage: A "Once-returner" (Sakadāgāmin) has greatly attenuated:
4. Sensual desire
5. Ill will
The third stage: A "Non-returner" (Anāgāmi) is free from:
4. Sensual desire
5. Ill will
The fourth stage: An Arahant is free from all of the five lower fetters and the five higher fetters, which are:
6. Attachment to the four meditative absorptions, which have form (rupa jhana)
7. Attachment to the four formless absorptions (ārupa jhana)
8. Conceit
9. Restlessness
10. Ignorance
