Rare is the Occurrence

Introduction

This collection of the Dhammapada contains twelve verses from seven chapters with a common theme – rarity.   The well-known verse 182 of the Buddha Vagga states that rare is birth as a human, and rare is the appearance of Buddhas.  Thus, it is also rare for beings to have the opportunity to hear the sublime truth from enlightened ones.

Also, it is rare for beings to desire to practise the Dhamma strenuously, and hence, few amongst men transcend Saηsara and reach the security of Nibbāna.  We thus hope that the verses contained herein will inspire us further in our striving towards the liberation from bondage to this whole mass of suffering.

Kiccham vatāyam loko āpanno
jahissatha dukkham idam anappakam