Rare Human Birth

💐Rare Human Birth💐

The Buddha had often said that to be born as a human being is a very rare feat. 

One of His disciples then asked the Buddha how rare was the occasion, and to give an example for clarification. 

The Buddha said:

"Monks, suppose that this great earth were totally covered with water, and a man were to toss a yoke with a single hole therein. 

A wind from the east would push it west, a wind from the west would push it east. A wind from the north would push it south, a wind from the

south would push it north. 

And suppose a blind sea-turtle were there. It would come to the surface once every 100  years.

Now, what do you think? Would that blind sea-turtle, coming to the surface once every 100 years, stick his neck into the yoke with a single hole?"

Monks : "It would be a sheer coincidence, lord, that the blind sea-turtle, coming to the surface once every 100  years, would stick his neck into the yoke with a single hole."

🌷 "It's likewise a sheer coincidence that one obtains the human state. 

🌷 It's likewise a sheer coincidence that a Tathàgata, worthy and rightly self-awakened, arises in the world.

🌷 It's likewise a sheer coincidence that a doctrine and discipline expounded by a Tathàgata appear in the world. 

💐 Now, this human state has been obtained. 

A Tathàgata, worthy and

rightly self-awakened, has arisen in the world.

A doctrine and discipline expounded by a Tathàgata appears in the world.

Therefore your duty is to contemplate: 

'This is Dukkha… 

This is the origination of Dukkha… 

This is the cessation of Dukkha… 

This is the path of practice leading to the cessation of Dukkha."

(Majjhima Nikàya 129.24)

(Samyutta Nikàya LVI.48)