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141. Assājānīya Sutta (Thoroughbreds) “Bhikkhus, I will instruct you on the three excellent thoroughbred horses, and their similarity to the three excellent thoroughbreds among people. “Now, listen and attend carefully to what I shall say.” “Yes, Bhante!” The Bhikkhus replied. And The Blessed One continued speaking: “And what, Bhikkhus, are the three excellent thoroughbred horses? “Here, Bhikkhus, a certain excellent thoroughbred is endowed with speed, but lacks both the beauty and the necessary correct proportions. Another type of an excellent thoroughbred, Bhikkhus, possesses both speed and beauty, but lacks all the necessary correct proportions. Yet another excellent thoroughbred, Bhikkhus, possesses speed, beauty, and the necessary correct proportions. “These are the three excellent thoroughbred horses, Bhikkhus. “And who, Bhikkhus, are the three excellent thoroughbred people? “Here, Bhikkhus, a certain type of person, like an excellent thoroughbred, possesses speed, but lacks both the beauty and the necessary correct proportions. Another type of an excellent thoroughbred person, Bhikkhus, possesses both speed and beauty, but lacks the necessary correct proportions. Yet another excellent thoroughbred person, Bhikkhus, possesses speed, beauty, and the necessary correct proportions. a. “And how, Bhikkhus, is an excellent thoroughbred of a person endowed with speed, but lacks both the beauty and the necessary correct proportions? “Here, Bhikkhus, through the destruction of the contaminants and by his own direct knowledge, the Bhikkhu realizes in this very birth, the taintless Release of the Heart, liberating himself through his direct wisdom, and thereby enters into and abides in it. “This, Bhikkhus, I say is his speed. “But if a deep question on The Dhamma and The Discipline is asked of him, he becomes bewildered and is unable to answer. “Bhikkhus, I say that this is his lack in beauty. “Also, he does not easily obtain his robes, alms food, shelter, and other provisions, as well as faces difficulties in receiving the medicinal requisites, if and when he becomes sick. “Bhikkhus, I say that this is his lack in the necessary correct proportions. “This, Bhikkhus, is the excellent thoroughbred of a person, who possesses speed, but lacks both beauty and the necessary correct proportions. b. “And how, Bhikkhus, does an excellent thoroughbred of a person possess both speed and beauty, but lacks the necessary correct proportions? “Here, Bhikkhus, through the destruction of the contaminants and by his own direct knowledge, the Bhikkhu realizes in this very birth, the taintless Release of the Heart, liberating himself through his direct wisdom, and thereby enters into and abides in it. “This, Bhikkhus, I say is his speed. “And if a deep question on The Dhamma and The Discipline is asked of him, he does not become bewildered and is able to answer. “Bhikkhus, I say that this is his beauty. “But he does not easily obtain his robes, alms food, shelter, and other provisions, as well as faces difficulties in receiving the medicinal requisites, if and when he becomes sick. “Bhikkhus, I say that this is his lack in the necessary correct proportions. “This, Bhikkhus, is the excellent thoroughbred of a person, who possesses both speed and beauty, but lacks the necessary correct proportions. c. “And how, Bhikkhus, is an excellent thoroughbred of a person endowed with speed, beauty, and the necessary correct proportions? “Here, Bhikkhus, through the destruction of the contaminants and by his own direct knowledge, the Bhikkhu realizes in this very birth, the taintless Release of the Heart, liberating himself through his direct wisdom, and thereby enters into and abides in it. “This, Bhikkhus, I say is his speed. “And if a deep question on The Dhamma and The Discipline is asked of him, he does not become bewildered and is able to answer. “Bhikkhus, I say that this is his beauty. “Also, he easily obtains robes, alms food, shelter, and other provisions, as well as all the medicinal requisites, if and when he becomes sick. “Bhikkhus, I say that this is him possessing the necessary correct proportions. “Bhikkhus, this is the thoroughbred of a person who, like an excellent thoroughbred horse, possesses speed, beauty, and the necessary correct proportions. “These, Bhikkhus, are the three types of excellent thoroughbred people.”