The Book of the Sixes

Chapter X: Advantages

[307]

Thus have I heard:

Once the Exalted One was dwelling near Sāvatthī,
at Jeta Grove,
in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.

There the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," they replied,
and the Exalted One said:

"Monks, the manifesting of six
is hard to come by in the world.

What six?

The¹ manifesting of the Tathāgata,
arahant,
fully enlightened,
is hard to come by in the world;

■

a teacher of the Tathāgata-declared Dhamma-discipline,
is hard to come by in the world;

■

rebirth in the Ariyan region;²,
is hard to come by in the world;

■

entire sense-governance,
is hard to come by in the world;

■

freedom from stupidity,
folly
and blindness,
is hard to come by in the world;

■

the desire to do right
is hard to come by in the world.

Verily, monks, the manifesting of these six
is hard to come by in the world.'

¹ Cf. above V, $ 143.

² Ariyāyatane. Comy. majjhima-dese.