The ThoroughbredAssājānīyasutta

“Mendicants, I will teach you the three fine thoroughbred horses, and the three fine thoroughbred people.“Tayo ca, bhikkhave, bhadre assājānīye desessāmi tayo ca bhadre purisājānīye. Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.

“Yes, sir,” they replied.“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. The Buddha said this:Bhagavā etadavoca:

“What are the three fine thoroughbred horses?“Katame ca, bhikkhave, tayo bhadrā assājānīyā? One fine thoroughbred horse …Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco bhadro assājānīyo …pe… is fast, beautiful, and well proportioned.javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca ārohapariṇāhasampanno ca.

These are the three fine thoroughbred horses.Ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo bhadrā assājānīyā.

And what are the three fine thoroughbred people?Katame ca, bhikkhave, tayo bhadrā purisājānīyā? One fine thoroughbred person …Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco bhadro purisājānīyo …pe… is fast, beautiful, and well proportioned.javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca ārohapariṇāhasampanno ca.

And how is a fine thoroughbred person …Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhadro purisājānīyo …pe… fast, beautiful, and well proportioned?javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca ārohapariṇāhasampanno ca? It’s when a mendicant realizes the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom. And they live having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements.Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati. This is how they’re fast, I say.Idamassa javasmiṁ vadāmi. When asked a question about the teaching or training, they answer without faltering.Abhidhamme kho pana abhivinaye pañhaṁ puṭṭho vissajjeti, no saṁsādeti. This is how they’re beautiful, I say.Idamassa vaṇṇasmiṁ vadāmi. They receive robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.Lābhī kho pana hoti cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ. This is how they’re well proportioned, I say.Idamassa ārohapariṇāhasmiṁ vadāmi. This is how a fine thoroughbred person is fast, beautiful, and well proportioned.Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhadro purisājānīyo javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca ārohapariṇāhasampanno ca.

These are the three fine thoroughbred people.”Ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo bhadrā purisājānīyā”ti.