Points of Controversy
21.3. Of Certain Fetters
Controverted Point: That Arahantship is won without a certain “Fetter -quantity being cast off.
Theravādin: Do you imply that Arahantship is won without the extirpation of theory of soul, or doubt, or misapprehension of behaviour and vows, or lust, or hate, or delusion, or indiscretion? You deny that you do, but your proposition cannot then be maintained.
Or do you imply that the Arahant is prone to lust, hate, delusion, conceit, pride, despair, corruption? Is not the opposite true of him? How then can you say there are certain Fetters he has not cast off?
Mahāsaṅghikas: If I am wrong, tell me: does an Arahant know with the complete purview of a Buddha? You agree he does not. Hence I am right.