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At
various times in the history of Buddhist philosophy there have been
debates about whether enlightenment is attained suddenly or
gradually - a rather pointless debate admittedly. The moment of
enlightenment is sudden but the process of getting to that stage is
gradual. The Buddha said: 'Little by little and from time to time the
wise person should remove his defilements the way a smith removes
dross from silver' (Dhp.239). In another place he says: 'Just as the
ocean slopes away gradually, tends down gradually without any abrupt
precipice, even so this Dhamma and discipline is a gradual doing, a
gradual training, a gradual practice. There is no sudden penetration
of knowledge' (Ud.54).
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