Question:
Often, we hear that if someone fully applies themselves in their dhamma practice, they will attain a level of enlightenment within 7 days, 7 weeks, 7 months, or 7 years. Or if a layperson achieves arahantship and doesn’t ordain within 7 days, they will die. Why the number 7, what is the significance?
Answer:
If we look in the Scriptures, they speak of 200 attaining arahantship or 500 people gathering to listen to a sermon. These large numbers most likely just symbolize “a lot.” It is unlikely that someone actually counted the exact number.
I believe the number 7 is used arbitrarily here to represent a period of time. The shortest period being 7 days simply because there are 7 days in a week. Then, using the same number, it increases from days to weeks to months to years. Meaning, if you dedicate yourself to dhamma practice, you will attain a level of enlightenment in some time, whether short or long.
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