Introduction
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa
Introduction to 1.2.4
Pātubhāvasuttaṃ - Rare Manifestations
The current Pātubhāvasutta is again found in the Aṅguttaranikāyo, the chapter of six items – Chakkanipātapāḷi.
This sutta lays out six advantageous prerequisites that assist one in encountering, traversing, and developing the Eightfold Noble Path. Most are straightforward although two of them could use a little further explanation. The first of these:
… ‘indriyānaṃ avekallatā dullabhā lokasmiṃ’ …
“The complete lack of any deficiency of the senses is difficult to be encountered by in this world!”
Something that seems to be quite natural is indeed a good fortune. Is one aware that possessing good health and unhindered sense perception: –‘indriyānaṃ avekallatā, ajaḷatā aneḷamūgatā’– with the good fortune of the previously mentioned realities in this sutta - puts one in the position, to understand Dhamma, practice it and walk in Dhamma?
The second that may help to have some explanation is the rebirth in the Ariyan region. Ariyāyatane as the region, the sphere where the Ariyan people dwell, from whom one can get inspiration. An individual becomes an ariyā after entering the stream of liberation by destroying at least the first three fetters, thus experiencing nibbana and reaching one of the four stages of liberation. To be born and able to live in such a region and then making the right choices is indeed an important welfare —maṅgala1:
Patirūpadesavāso2 ca, pubbe ca katapuññatā;
Attasammāpaṇidhi3 ca, etaṃ maṅgalamuttamaṃ.
A suitable place of abode, the merit of past good deeds,
Right aspirations for oneself—this is the highest welfare.
1. For full details of the 37 maṅgāla – wholesome welfare for the householders see 3.6.8 Maṅgālasuttaṃ - The Householder wholesome Blessings
2. patirūpadesavāso: patirūpa + desavāso: suitable, proper + region, country
3. attasammāpaṇidhi: atta + sammā + paṇidhi: self + right + aspiration