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Lesson 1.3.4 Catutthavaggo - The Few and the Many
This Catutthavaggo lesson once more accentuates the rarity of those exceptionally few beings (appakā te sattā) that are born as humans and encounter the teaching of the Buddha. Providing full awareness of such facts, the similes and allegories presented in the Catutthavaggo may further stir motivation in us to make use of this rare opportunity! The Introduction further dwells on the following double-edged question that King Milinda placed before the wise Venerable Nāgasena: “The Tathāgata worked for four asaṅkhyeyye and a hundred thousand kappā to realise omniscient wisdom to take a great number of beings safely across the shore. But on the other hand, you say that after having realised omniscient wisdom he was reluctant to teach Dhamma. Either the one or the other must be false, not both can be true. …’ Find the answer here!