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TEACHINGS | EASTERN HORIZON 13
Ordination at the Bhavana Society
There are eight rare things in the 3. Right moment to practice is very the difference between real gold
world. They are: difficult. The right moment is and counterfeited gold. So, the
obstructed by eight situations. value of real gold loses its value.
(1) Dullabhañca manussattaṃ (i) hell realm, 5. Saddhammasavaṇampi ca.
(2) Buddho ca dullabho loke (ii) animal realm, When the noble dhamma is rare,
(3) Dullabhā khaṇa sampatti, (iii) ghost realm, listening to noble dhamma is
(4) Saddhammo paramadullabho (iv) birth in a realm without likewise rare.
(5) Saddhammasavaṇampi ca perception, 6. Saṃgho ca dullabho loke. When
(6) Saṃgho ca dullabho loke, (v) birth in a region where the above factors are rare, the
(7) Sappurisā atidullabhā nobody can understand noble Saṅgha (ariya saṅgha) also
(8) Kataññūkatavedi puggalo four noble truths, is rare. Those who have attained
dullabho lokasmim (vi) birth with mental Stream entry, Once returner,
handicap that prevents Never returner, and Arahant
1. To be born as a human being is comprehension, are known as the noble Saṅgha
rare. There are many obstacles (vii) birth with total confused (Ariya Saṅgha).
that prevent someone to be born state of mind, and 7. Sappurisā atidullabhā;
as a human being. Even though (viii) birth during time when 8. Kataññūkatavedi puggalo
there are billions of human the Buddha’s dispensation dullabho lokasmim. Listening
beings, all the odds are against does not exist. to the Dhamma becomes very
their birth compared to other 4. Saddhammo paramadullabho difficult. It is difficult not only
living beings in this planet. It The true Dhamma (saddhamma) because the appearance of the
is even more difficult to live in is even more rare. The Dhamma Buddhas in the world is rare, but
good health that helps focus the -impermanence (anicca), because those who listen do not
mind on learning Dhamma. unsatisfactoriness (dukkha) have proper attitude to listening.
2. Birth of a Buddha also is very and non-self (anattā) - exist all It is very difficult to focus the
rare. According to Buddhist the time. Recourses for learning mind on the Dhamma teaching.
tradition only seven Buddhas are Noble Truth are very rare. They One needs to be highly motivated
listed by name in the Buddhist are mixed with fake truth. The to listen to Dhamma with an
text such as Samyuttanikāya, Buddha has given two very undivided mind.
Dīghanikāya. They are Vipassi, meaningful similes. One is a
Sikhī, Vessabhu, Kakusand, simile of summoning drum (Āni Story:
Konāgama, Kassapa, and Sutta) in the discourse called Āni One day five people went to listen
Gotama. Each of them has taken Sutta. The other is counterfeited to a sermon delivered by the
and prepared a very long time gold. When imitation gold comes Buddha. One of them was sleeping
to attain Buddhahood. to the market you don’t know while sitting, one was scratching
