[T]he original teaching of the triple doctrine was that the believer should be charitable and observe the precepts in order to earn the karmic reward of rebirth in heaven, but the idea behind the teaching is that through the gradual and continuous practice of giving and the precepts the practitioner will come to understand the true nature of existence, abandon the lesser goal of rebirth in a heavenly realm, and begin to practice giving and the precepts with no thought of karmic reward. When this stage of awareness is reached, the practitioner has perfected the indestructible precepts, one of the four indestructible objects of faith (Buddha, Law, Order, and precepts) and is on the sage path leading eventually to enlightenment. The practitioner will continue on this path through various stages of spiritual development, stopping short of becoming an arhat only because lay people cannot devote themselves fully to meditation. If a practitioner can perfect the final practice of meditation, that reward, too, will be won.