[buddhism] Arahant , Monasticism, Technical 4th Path and MCTB

"The reason monastics don't talk about attainments may have to do more with lay people than some secretiveness"

Yes, it is not about being secretive. When thought about in practical terms the reasons are quite obvious. The monastics exist through the support of the laity. If the monk were to talk to the laity about how attained they were, it would just then encourage the laity to offer to that particular monk, potentially more so than others who then go hungry/without support. Or the monk could use their status/attainment, telling lay people of them, as a means to get favour and such.

This may seem strange, but in Buddhist countries where merit/rebirth is a belief that is widely held, there is the idea that the more attained, or more dedicated a monk is, the greater the merit in offering to them. (There scholarly publications which actually go in depth into how this calculation works). People will often travel long distances, even overseas, to make an offering to a monastic who is regarded as an Arahant. Having the rule that the monastic does talk to lay people regarding attainments is a means of helping limit this effect somewhat.

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