I quoted below, the words of Ven. Dhammavuddho, who stated that, according to SN 55.5, to attain stream entry, one must have focused attention (yoniso manasikara) when listening to the true Dhamma from true men (ariyans) and contemplating on it. After that, they must practise the Dhamma in accordance with the Dhamma.

They can have focused attention, only if the five hindrances stop habitually obsessing their minds. Two types of persons pass this criteria - one who has attained the first jhana and one who is highly intelligent (has high IQ). Both can concentrate their minds effectively.

My questions are:

* Is the role of IQ as stated above, found in the suttas? (reference request)
* How could not-so-intelligent persons compensate for their lack of IQ, if they want to understand the Dhamma and attain stream entry?

In the YouTube video entitled "[Characteristics of a Sotapanna](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI3dT4aXkfM)", [Ven. Dhammavuddho Mahathera](http://www.dhammavuddho.com/bhante-hye/) stated (with some paraphrasing):

> 
> Now we look at another Sutta - [SN 55.5](https://suttacentral.net/sn55.5/en/sujato). ... It is mentioned that there are
> four factors or conditions for stream entry - sotapattiyangani. First,
> association with true men - sappurisa. Second, hearing the true
> Dhamma (Saddhamma). Third, focused attention or proper attention (yoniso manasikara). And fourth,
> practice of the Dhamma in accordance with the Dhamma -
> Dhammanudhammapatipatti.
> 
> 
> The first one is association with true men. The word sappurisa also
> means ariyans - those who understand the true Dhamma. Because they
> understand the true Dhamma, you can hear the true Dhamma from them.
> 
> 
> The second condition - What is the true Dhamma? ... if it agrees with
> the Buddha's words in the Suttas, then it is the true Dhamma. ....
> 
> 
> The third condition, this word - yoniso manasikara, which I translate
> as focused attention. Sometimes they say careful attention. This word
> means that when you listen to the Dhamma, you are focused on listening
> to the Dhamma. In other words, at that time, you don't have the five
> hindrances. If that is so, then you can understand the Dhamma and
> attain stream entry.
> 
> 
> So who are the people who do not have the five hindrances? In the
> suttas, it is stated by the Buddha that as long as a person has not
> attained piti and sukha which are secluded from unwholesome states,
> which are secluded from sensual pleasures, the five hindrances will
> obsess him and obsess him habitually.
> 
> 
> So, there are two types of persons who do not have the five
> hindrances. The first is the one who has attained the first jhana
> (i.e. he who has attained piti and sukha). When a person has attained
> the first jhana, he has eliminated the five hindrances and the Buddha
> says that the five hindrances no longer obsess that person habitually.
> 
> 
> So there are two conditions if a person has the hindrances. Firstly,
> it obsesses your mind, it enslaves your mind. Secondly, it is
> habitual, it is very often there. ... When a person attains the first
> jhana, these hindrances reduce to a very low level. ...
> 
> 
> **The other type of person who does not have the five hindrances habitually obsessing his mind is an intelligent person - the person
> with a high IQ. Normally, a person born with a high IQ, he has good
> concentration and that was obtained from previous lives.** A very good
> example is Albert Einstein. ... (some example of Albert Einstein) ...
> It shows that he had great concentration. So, people who are
> intelligent, they are able to focus their mind. That is very
> important. A scatter-brained person cannot be an intelligent person -
> the mind is so scattered.
> 
> 
> These are the two types of persons. One, because of previous lives,
> he's born very intelligent - he can focus his mind. The second person
> is one who has attained the jhanas.
> 
> 
> The fourth condition - practice of the Dhamma in accordance with the
> Dhamma. So he keeps practising the Dhamma and he will attain stream
> entry. Now this fourth condition may not be necessary for some people.
> We find in the suttas - many people when they listen to the Buddha,
> speaking the Dhamma, even for the first time, they attain stream
> entry. The Buddha confirms this. But some people after they have
> listened, it doesn't click immediately. They go back and they think
> about it and then it clicks. And then they understand the Dhamma and
> attain stream entry.
> 
> 
> So this practice of the Dhamma in accordance with the Dhamma is after
> he has listened, he starts to recall the Dhamma or investigate more of
> the Dhamma. And then after some time, then the pieces fall into place
> like a jigsaw puzzle. And then he sees the Dhamma.
> 
> 
>