The Noble Eightfold Path and Lay Practitioners
The Noble Eightfold Path is a path that can be practiced by both monastics and laypeople. Therefore, anyone who follows the Noble Eightfold Path can attain liberation and Nibbāna. In particular, when examining Right Livelihood (Sammā-ājīva) within the Noble Eightfold Path, it is evident that the Buddha taught this path with both monastics and laypeople in mind.
Five Trades Laypeople Should Avoid (Aṅguttara Nikāya 5.177)
Trade in weapons (sattha-vaṇijjā) – Selling weapons and instruments of killing
Trade in human beings (satta-vaṇijjā) – Engaging in slavery or human trafficking
Trade in animals for slaughter (maṁsa-vaṇijjā) – Raising or selling animals for meat production
Trade in intoxicants (majja-vaṇijjā) – Selling alcohol or intoxicating substances
Trade in poisons (visa-vaṇijjā) – Manufacturing or selling toxic substances
Prohibited Practices for Monastics (Dīgha Nikāya 2, Samaññaphala Sutta)
Astrology, fortune-telling, and divination – Engaging in palmistry, predicting auspicious or inauspicious events, or interpreting omens.
Duties of a Monastic (Dīgha Nikāya 2)
Renunciation (Anagāriya) – Not possessing worldly wealth or property
Alms gathering (Piṇḍapāta) – Relying on lay supporters for food, clothing, and shelter while maintaining a pure livelihood
Lay Disciples Who Attained Noble Status
Male Lay Nobles (Aṅguttara Nikāya 1.14.6)
Tapassu
Bhallika
Sudatta Anāthapiṇḍika
Citta Gahapati
Hatthaka Āḷavaka
Mahānāma Sakya
Ugga Gahapati
Uggata Gahapati
Sūra Ambattha
Jīvaka Komārabhacca
Nakula-Pitā Gahapati
Female Lay Nobles (Aṅguttara Nikāya 1.14.7)
Sujātā
Visākhā Migāramātā
Kujjuttarā
Sāmāvatī
Uttara Nandamātā
Sumphavāsī
Suppiyā
Kātiyānī
Nakula-Mātā
Kālī
Other Lay Nobles Mentioned in the Suttas and Vinaya
Citta the Householder (Citta Gahapati) (Saṃyutta Nikāya 41)
Hatthaka of Āḷavī (Aṅguttara Nikāya 8.23)
Mahānāma the Sakyan (Saṃyutta Nikāya 55.37)
Nakula Pita & Nakula Mata (Aṅguttara Nikāya 6.16)
Visākhā (Migāramātā) (Aṅguttara Nikāya 1.14.7)
Jīvaka Komārabhacca (Vinaya Piṭaka)
Yasa (Vinaya Piṭaka)
Ghatīkāra (Majjhima Nikāya 81) (Note: Ghatīkāra was a Non-returner, not an Arahant)
Bāhiya Dārucīriya (Udāna 1.10)