Using the simile of Jambudīpa's rare delightful parks amid rugged terrain, the Buddha illustrates how rare it is to be reborn as a human, to encounter the Dhamma, and to gain the taste of liberation.

AN 1.333-377  Catuttha vagga - The Chapter on One Thing (Fourth)

1.333

“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, appamattakaṁ imasmiṁ jambudīpe ārāmarāmaṇeyyakaṁ vanarāmaṇeyyakaṁ bhūmirāmaṇeyyakaṁ pokkharaṇirāmaṇeyyakaṁ; atha kho etadeva bahutaraṁ yadidaṁ ukkūlavikūlaṁ nadīviduggaṁ khāṇukaṇṭakaṭṭhānaṁ pabbatavisamaṁ; evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye thalajā, atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye odakā.

“Just as, bhikkhus, in this |Jambudīpa::a reference to the Indian subcontinent, lit. land of the black plum aka jambu trees [jambudīpa]|, delightful parks, groves, landscapes, and lotus ponds are few, while more numerous are the hills and slopes, rivers that are hard to cross, places with stumps and thorns, and rugged mountains; so too those beings are few who are born on land; more numerous are those beings who are born in water.”

1.334

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye manussesu paccājāyanti; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye aññatra manussehi paccājāyanti.

Just as, bhikkhus, in this Jambudīpa, delightful parks, groves, landscapes, and lotus ponds are few, while more numerous are the hills and slopes, rivers that are hard to cross, places with stumps and thorns, and rugged mountains; so too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who are reborn among humans; more numerous are those beings who are reborn elsewhere than among humans.”

1.335

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye majjhimesu janapadesu paccājāyanti; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye paccantimesu janapadesu paccājāyanti aviññātāresu milakkhesu.

Just as, bhikkhus, in this Jambudīpa, delightful parks, groves, landscapes, and lotus ponds are few, while more numerous are the hills and slopes, rivers that are hard to cross, places with stumps and thorns, and rugged mountains; so too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who are reborn in the middle provinces; more numerous are those beings who are reborn in the outlying provinces among the ignoramus foreigners.”

1.336

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye paññavanto ajaḷā aneḷamūgā paṭibalā subhāsitadubbhāsitassa atthamaññātuṁ; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye duppaññā jaḷā eḷamūgā na paṭibalā subhāsitadubbhāsitassa atthamaññātuṁ.

Just as, bhikkhus, in this Jambudīpa, delightful parks, groves, landscapes, and lotus ponds are few, while more numerous are the hills and slopes, rivers that are hard to cross, places with stumps and thorns, and rugged mountains; so too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who are wise, intelligent, astute, capable of understanding the meaning of what is well spoken and ill spoken; more numerous are those beings who are |undiscerning::without wisdom [duppañña]|, dull, |muddled::stupid, dull, bewildered [eḷamūga]|, incapable of understanding the meaning of what is well spoken and ill spoken.”

1.337

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye ariyena paññācakkhunā samannāgatā; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye avijjāgatā sammūḷhā.

Just as, bhikkhus, in this Jambudīpa, delightful parks, groves, landscapes, and lotus ponds are few, while more numerous are the hills and slopes, rivers that are hard to cross, places with stumps and thorns, and rugged mountains; so too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who are endowed with the noble eye of wisdom; more numerous are those beings who are |immersed in ignorance::delusional [avijjāgata]| and |bewildered::confused, disoriented by delusion [sammūḷha]|.”

1.338

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye labhanti tathāgataṁ dassanāya; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye na labhanti tathāgataṁ dassanāya.

Just as, bhikkhus, in this Jambudīpa, delightful parks, groves, landscapes, and lotus ponds are few, while more numerous are the hills and slopes, rivers that are hard to cross, places with stumps and thorns, and rugged mountains; so too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who get to see the |Tathāgata::one who has arrived at the truth, an epithet of a perfectly Awakened One [tathāgata]|; more numerous are those beings who do not get to see the Tathāgata.”

1.339

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye labhanti tathāgatappaveditaṁ dhammavinayaṁ savanāya; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye na labhanti tathāgatappaveditaṁ dhammavinayaṁ savanāya.

Just as, bhikkhus, in this Jambudīpa, delightful parks, groves, landscapes, and lotus ponds are few, while more numerous are the hills and slopes, rivers that are hard to cross, places with stumps and thorns, and rugged mountains; so too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who get to hear the |Dhamma::teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [dhamma]| and |Vinaya::code of monastic discipline rules, training [vinaya]| expounded by the Tathāgata; more numerous are those beings who do not get to hear the Dhamma and Vinaya expounded by the Tathāgata.”

1.340

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye sutvā dhammaṁ dhārenti; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye sutvā dhammaṁ na dhārenti.

Just as, bhikkhus, in this Jambudīpa, delightful parks, groves, landscapes, and lotus ponds are few, while more numerous are the hills and slopes, rivers that are hard to cross, places with stumps and thorns, and rugged mountains; so too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who, having heard the Dhamma, retain it; more numerous are those beings who, having heard the Dhamma, do not retain it.”

1.341

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye dhātānaṁ dhammānaṁ atthaṁ upaparikkhanti; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye dhātānaṁ dhammānaṁ atthaṁ na upaparikkhanti.

Just as, bhikkhus, in this Jambudīpa, delightful parks, groves, landscapes, and lotus ponds are few, while more numerous are the hills and slopes, rivers that are hard to cross, places with stumps and thorns, and rugged mountains; so too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who examine the meaning of the Dhamma they have retained; more numerous are those beings who do not examine the meaning of the Dhamma they have retained.”

1.342

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammaṁ paṭipajjanti; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammaṁ na paṭipajjanti.

Just as, bhikkhus, in this Jambudīpa, delightful parks, groves, landscapes, and lotus ponds are few, while more numerous are the hills and slopes, rivers that are hard to cross, places with stumps and thorns, and rugged mountains; so too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who, having understood the meaning of the Dhamma, practice in accordance with the Dhamma; more numerous are those beings who, having understood the meaning of the Dhamma, do not practice in accordance with the Dhamma.”

1.343

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye saṁvejaniyesu ṭhānesu saṁvijjanti; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye saṁvejaniyesu ṭhānesu na saṁvijjanti.

Just as, bhikkhus, in this Jambudīpa, delightful parks, groves, landscapes, and lotus ponds are few, while more numerous are the hills and slopes, rivers that are hard to cross, places with stumps and thorns, and rugged mountains; so too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who are stirred by things that are grounds for stirring; more numerous are those beings who are not stirred by things that are grounds for stirring.”

1.344

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye saṁviggā yoniso padahanti; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye saṁviggā yoniso na padahanti.

Just as, bhikkhus, in this Jambudīpa, delightful parks, groves, landscapes, and lotus ponds are few, while more numerous are the hills and slopes, rivers that are hard to cross, places with stumps and thorns, and rugged mountains; so too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who, having been stirred, strive |wisely::properly, prudently, thoroughly, carefully [yoniso]|; more numerous are those beings who, having been stirred, do not strive wisely.”

1.345

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye vavassaggārammaṇaṁ karitvā labhanti samādhiṁ labhanti cittassekaggataṁ; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye vavassaggārammaṇaṁ karitvā na labhanti samādhiṁ na labhanti cittassekaggataṁ.

Just as, bhikkhus, in this Jambudīpa, delightful parks, groves, landscapes, and lotus ponds are few, while more numerous are the hills and slopes, rivers that are hard to cross, places with stumps and thorns, and rugged mountains; so too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who, making letting go their basis, gain |collectedness::stability of mind, stillness of mind, mental composure [samādhi]|, gain |unification of mind::oneness of mind [cittekaggatā]|; more numerous are those beings who, making letting go their basis, do not gain collectedness, do not gain unification of mind.”

1.346

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye annaggarasaggānaṁ lābhino; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye annaggarasaggānaṁ na lābhino, uñchena kapālābhatena yāpenti.

Just as, bhikkhus, in this Jambudīpa, delightful parks, groves, landscapes, and lotus ponds are few, while more numerous are the hills and slopes, rivers that are hard to cross, places with stumps and thorns, and rugged mountains; so too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who gain the finest foods and flavors; more numerous are those beings who do not gain the finest foods and flavors, but subsist on scraps gleaned in a bowl.”

1.347

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye attharasassa dhammarasassa vimuttirasassa lābhino; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye attharasassa dhammarasassa vimuttirasassa na lābhino.

Just as, bhikkhus, in this Jambudīpa, delightful parks, groves, landscapes, and lotus ponds are few, while more numerous are the hills and slopes, rivers that are hard to cross, places with stumps and thorns, and rugged mountains; so too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who gain the taste of the meaning, the taste of the Dhamma, the taste of liberation; more numerous are those beings who do not gain the taste of the meaning, the taste of the Dhamma, the taste of liberation.

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ: ‘attharasassa dhammarasassa vimuttirasassa lābhino bhavissāmā’ti. Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.

Therefore, bhikkhus, you should train yourselves thus: ‘We will become those who gain the taste of the meaning, the taste of the Dhamma, the taste of liberation.’ Thus, bhikkhus, should you train yourselves.”

1.348-350

“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, appamattakaṁ imasmiṁ jambudīpe ārāmarāmaṇeyyakaṁ vanarāmaṇeyyakaṁ bhūmirāmaṇeyyakaṁ pokkharaṇirāmaṇeyyakaṁ; atha kho etadeva bahutaraṁ yadidaṁ ukkūlavikūlaṁ nadīviduggaṁ khāṇukaṇṭakaṭṭhānaṁ pabbatavisamaṁ. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye manussā cutā manussesu paccājāyanti, atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye manussā cutā niraye paccājāyanti …pe… tiracchānayoniyā paccājāyanti …pe… pettivisaye paccājāyanti”.

“Just as, bhikkhus, in this Jambudīpa, delightful parks, groves, landscapes, and lotus ponds are few, while more numerous are the hills and slopes, rivers that are hard to cross, places with stumps and thorns, and rugged mountains; so too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who, passing away from the human state, are reborn among humans; more numerous are those beings who, passing away from the human state, are reborn in |hell::a place of intense suffering, lit. no good fortune [niraya]| … reborn in the animal realm … reborn in the |ghost realm::world of the forefathers [pettivisaya]|.”

1.351–353

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye manussā cutā devesu paccājāyanti; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye manussā cutā niraye paccājāyanti tiracchānayoniyā paccājāyanti pettivisaye paccājāyanti.

Just as, bhikkhus, in this Jambudīpa, delightful parks, groves, landscapes, and lotus ponds are few, while more numerous are the hills and slopes, rivers that are hard to cross, places with stumps and thorns, and rugged mountains; so too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who, passing away from the human state, are reborn among the |deities::gods [deva]|; more numerous are those beings who, passing away from the human state, are reborn in hell … reborn in the animal realm … reborn in the ghost realm.”

1.354–356

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye devā cutā devesu paccājāyanti; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye devā cutā niraye paccājāyanti tiracchānayoniyā paccājāyanti pettivisaye paccājāyanti.

Just as, bhikkhus, in this Jambudīpa, delightful parks, groves, landscapes, and lotus ponds are few, while more numerous are the hills and slopes, rivers that are hard to cross, places with stumps and thorns, and rugged mountains; so too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who, passing away as deities, are reborn among the deities; more numerous are those beings who, passing away as deities, are reborn in hell … reborn in the animal realm … reborn in the ghost realm.”

1.357–359

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye devā cutā manussesu paccājāyanti; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye devā cutā niraye paccājāyanti tiracchānayoniyā paccājāyanti pettivisaye paccājāyanti.

Just as, bhikkhus, in this Jambudīpa, delightful parks, groves, landscapes, and lotus ponds are few, while more numerous are the hills and slopes, rivers that are hard to cross, places with stumps and thorns, and rugged mountains; so too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who, passing away as deities, are reborn among humans; more numerous are those beings who, passing away from the devas, are reborn in hell … reborn in the animal realm … reborn in the ghost realm.”

1.360–362

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye nirayā cutā manussesu paccājāyanti; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye nirayā cutā niraye paccājāyanti tiracchānayoniyā paccājāyanti pettivisaye paccājāyanti.

Just as, bhikkhus, in this Jambudīpa, delightful parks, groves, landscapes, and lotus ponds are few, while more numerous are the hills and slopes, rivers that are hard to cross, places with stumps and thorns, and rugged mountains; so too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who, passing away from hell, are reborn among humans; more numerous are those beings who, passing away from hell, are reborn in hell … reborn in the animal realm … reborn in the ghost realm.”

1.363–365

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye nirayā cutā devesu paccājāyanti; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye nirayā cutā niraye paccājāyanti tiracchānayoniyā paccājāyanti pettivisaye paccājāyanti.

Just as, bhikkhus, in this Jambudīpa, delightful parks, groves, landscapes, and lotus ponds are few, while more numerous are the hills and slopes, rivers that are hard to cross, places with stumps and thorns, and rugged mountains; so too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who, passing away from hell, are reborn among the deities; more numerous are those beings who, passing away from hell, are reborn in hell … reborn in the animal realm … reborn in the ghost realm.

1.366–368

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye tiracchānayoniyā cutā manussesu paccājāyanti; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye tiracchānayoniyā cutā niraye paccājāyanti tiracchānayoniyā paccājāyanti pettivisaye paccājāyanti.

Just as, bhikkhus, in this Jambudīpa, delightful parks, groves, landscapes, and lotus ponds are few, while more numerous are the hills and slopes, rivers that are hard to cross, places with stumps and thorns, and rugged mountains; so too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who, passing away from the animal realm, are reborn among humans; more numerous are those beings who, passing away from the animal realm, are reborn in hell … reborn in the animal realm … reborn in the ghost realm.”

1.369–371

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye tiracchānayoniyā cutā devesu paccājāyanti; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye tiracchānayoniyā cutā niraye paccājāyanti tiracchānayoniyā paccājāyanti pettivisaye paccājāyanti.

Just as, bhikkhus, in this Jambudīpa, delightful parks, groves, landscapes, and lotus ponds are few, while more numerous are the hills and slopes, rivers that are hard to cross, places with stumps and thorns, and rugged mountains; so too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who, passing away from the animal realm, are reborn among the deities; more numerous are those beings who, passing away from the animal realm, are reborn in hell … reborn in the animal realm … reborn in the ghost realm.”

1.372–374

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye pettivisayā cutā manussesu paccājāyanti; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye pettivisayā cutā niraye paccājāyanti tiracchānayoniyā paccājāyanti pettivisaye paccājāyanti.

Just as, bhikkhus, in this Jambudīpa, delightful parks, groves, landscapes, and lotus ponds are few, while more numerous are the hills and slopes, rivers that are hard to cross, places with stumps and thorns, and rugged mountains; so too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who, passing away from the ghost realm, are reborn among humans; more numerous are those beings who, passing away from the ghost realm, are reborn in hell … reborn in the animal realm … reborn in the ghost realm.”

1.375–377

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye pettivisayā cutā devesu paccājāyanti; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye pettivisayā cutā niraye paccājāyanti tiracchānayoniyā paccājāyanti pettivisaye paccājāyan”ti.

Just as, bhikkhus, in this Jambudīpa, delightful parks, groves, landscapes, and lotus ponds are few, while more numerous are the hills and slopes, rivers that are hard to cross, places with stumps and thorns, and rugged mountains; so too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who, passing away from the ghost realm, are reborn among the deities; more numerous are those beings who, passing away from the ghost realm, are reborn in hell … reborn in the animal realm … reborn in the ghost realm.”

Topics & Qualities:

Investigation

Investigation

Investigation involves the process of a careful inquiry of mental states, qualities, and phenomena, examining their arising, persisting, and ceasing in order to understand their true nature and support the cultivation of wisdom and awakening.

Also known as: inquiry, contemplation, examination, analysis, exploration
Pāli: vicaya, vīmaṃsā, parikkhati
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Jhana

Jhana

A mental quality of composure where awareness is gathered, steady, rather than scattered or tense. In such collectedness, supported by mindfulness and right view, experience is clearly known and can be wisely contemplated.

Also known as: absorption, concentration, collectedness, mental composure, stability of mind, undistracted awareness
Pāli: jhāna, samādhi, samāhita, susamāhita, sammāsamādhi
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Liberation

Liberation

Liberation can imply a temporary release of the mind, i.e. liberated from certain unwholesome mental qualities or complete liberation from all unwholesome qualities of the mind, i.e. Nibbāna.

Also known as: freedom, release, emancipation, deliverance
Pāli: vimutti, vimokkha, cetovimutti, paññāvimutti, akuppā cetovimutti
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Rousing of energy

Rousing of energy

The arousing of effort and determination in body and mind. It begins with confidence and reflection on purpose, stirring energy for wholesome action.

Also known as: determination, being energetic, taking initiative, making a mental decision to act
Pāli: vīriyārambha, āraddhavīriya, uṭṭhānavant, atandita, pahitatta
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Unification

Unification

Mind becoming single and integrated with the settling down of reflection and examination.

Also known as: unification of mind, being collected, integration, oneness, singleness of mind
Pāli: ekagga, ekodibhāva
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Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, vijjā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita
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Wise attention

Wise attention

Paying attention to the point of contact where experience originates. It discerns the specific cause of the present moment, preventing the mind from drifting into proliferation.

Also known as: proper attention, prudent use of the mind, attention to the source
Pāli: yonisomanasikāra
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Ignorance

Ignorance

A fundamental blindness to the true nature of reality. It is not merely a lack of information, but an active misperception that views the transient as permanent and the unsatisfactory as a source of happiness, thereby fueling the cycle of suffering.

Also known as: illusion of knowing, fundamental unawareness of the true nature of reality, misunderstanding of how things have come to be, not knowing the four noble truths
Pāli: avijjā
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Lack of discernment

Lack of discernment

Failure to understand cause and effect or to recognize wholesome from unwholesome. It clouds judgment and makes the mind easily led by craving and aversion.

Also known as: lack of clear comprehension, lack of wisdom, child-like in understanding
Pāli: asampajañña, bāla, duppañña
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Last updated on February 13, 2026