Grammatical Analysis
Sakadāgāmī: [m.; f.] Once-Returner. Formed by sakiṃ (once) + āgāmī (one who returns). Signifies a noble individual who will return to the human or sensual world only one more time before achieving total liberation.
Orthodox Definition
The Sakadāgāmī is the second of the four noble disciples (ariya-puggala) in the Theravāda spiritual taxonomy. This stage is reached through further intensification of insight meditation, built upon the foundation of a Stream-enterer (Sotāpanna).
Unlike the first, third, and fourth stages of awakening, the attainment of a Once-Returner does not completely eliminate any new fetters (saṃyojana). Instead, it dramatically weakens and thins out the coarse expressions of the fourth and fifth fetters:
- Kāmarāga (Sensual craving)
- Paṭigha (Aversion/Ill-will)
The mind of a Sakadāgāmī is exceptionally pure; while subtle attachments and passing moments of irritation may still arise, they lack the strength to trigger unwholesome actions. If a Once-Returner dies without attaining higher stages in that life, they are reborn exactly once more in the human world or a heavenly sensuous realm (kāmaloka), where they are guaranteed to bring the path to its absolute conclusion.
Textual References
- Sutta: Mahāli Sutta (DN 6) – Where the Buddha defines the stages of Once-Returner and their spiritual parameters.
- Abhidhamma: Puggalapaññatti (Exposition on Types of Persons).
- Commentary: Visuddhimagga (Chapter XXII) – Detailed tracking of how insight knowledge weakens the coarser defilements.