ARAHATSHIP

The "arahat" is the  Buddhist saint, the ideal of Theravada, original Buddhism.  Arahatship is the state of "him who is worthy," of him "who has reached the end of the Eightfold Path." 

The arahat has conquered "the three intoxications"--sensuality, ignorance, and the "thirst" leading to rebirth.  He enjoys the "higher insight" (sambodhi) with its mingling of joy, energy, calm, benevolence, and concentration. 

His joy is deep, because he has already had a foretaste of Nirvana in his achieving the highest state of consciousness.  For the balance of his days he will know the bliss of salvation from misery-producing desires.

The energy of the arahat is purely spiritual.  He no longer feels suffering, and takes no pleasure in earthly joys.   He is able to say, "I do not wish for death, I do not wish for life."  In this state he awaits with calm contentment and without fear the "putting out of his lamp of life," which is the entrance into final Nirvana at death.  Just what this final state will be, he does not greatly care.  He is free.