Supramundanish

PAGE THREE

Sayadaw puts an exclamation point on the importance of the four noble truths and adds them in proper cooking order.  We must know the first, second and third Truths before knowing the fourth.  However, to make it very special, we must divides the fourth Truth into two sets of ingredients, the mundane and the supramundane.  Only when the mundane has been fully mixed can the supramundane be added to call it done.

In fact, he suggests we start with the Noble Eightfold Path (the fourth Truth) in this way,

1. Practice morality (the five or eight precepts; to abstain from harming living beings, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying and intoxication.)
2. Then practice concentration and develop access concentration and absorption (jhana), 
3. Then wisdom, which he defines as the realization of the three marks of impermanence, suffering and non-self. 

He briefly mentions the supramundane Path Truth, which (I looked it up although I would guess it will be referenced later), and just how supramundane does it get, well... really a lot;

From Gunaratna's The Jhanas on Access to Insight: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/gunaratana/wheel351.html#ch5.3

The climax in the development of insight is the attainment of the supramundane paths and fruits. ..The first path, called the path of stream-entry (sotapatti) because it marks the entry into the stream of the Dhamma, eradicates the first three fetters — The false view of self, doubt, and clinging to rites and rituals.

The next supramundane path is that of the once-returner (sakadagami). This path does not eradicate any fetters completely, but it greatly attenuates sensual desire and ill will. The once-returner is so called because he is bound to make an end of suffering after returning to this world only one more time. 

The third path, that of the non-returner (anagami) utterly destroys the sensual desire and ill will weakened by the preceding path.

The highest path, the path of arahatship, eradicate the remaining five fetters — desire for existence in the fine-material and immaterial spheres, conceit, restlessness and ignorance. The arahant has completed the development of the entire path taught by the Buddha. 

And there is so much more... but I must read only a page at time, as I breathe, a little teaspoon of awareness with each breath.