Phala


Phala is a Sanskrit term that means “fruit” of one's actions in Hinduism and Buddhism. In Buddhism, the following types of phala are identified:
In Hinduism, the term phala is translated as fruition, results, effects.
The Yoga-Sûtra of Patañjali states:

Within Buddhism

Within Buddhism, the term phala is used to refer to the fruition or results of actions according to the doctrine of karmic action and result.

Alternate translations

The term phala is translated as:
The term Ariya phala is used to refer specifically to the fruition of following the Buddhist path. The fruition for each of the four levels of the path is identified as follows:
  1. Sota patti phala, fruition of stream entry
  2. Sakadagamiphala, fruition of once returning
  3. Anagami phala, fruition of non returning
  4. Arahatta phala, fruition of the worthy one or perfected one

    Maha-phala

The term Maha-phala refers to the ten "Great fruits" of the contemplative life. According to the Samaññaphala Sutta, the 10 “Great fruits” are:
  1. Equanimity
  2. Fearlessness
  3. Freedom from unhappiness & suffering
  4. Meditative Absorption
  5. Out-of-body experience
  6. Clairaudience
  7. Intuition and mental telepathy
  8. Recollection of past lives
  9. Clairvoyance
  10. End of anxiety & mental agitation

    Comparison to Christianity

The fruit of Buddhism and Hinduism are comparable the charisms of Charismatic Christianity which are known as the "sign-gifts” of the Holy Spirit, which are the charisms of prophesy, healing, and speaking in tongues, as described in St Paul's Epistle, 1 Corinthians, Chapters 12 and 14 and elsewhere.