10.
The Discourse on the Thoroughbred Horse
143.
"I will teach you, monks, three good thoroughbred horses and three good thoroughbred persons.
Listen to that and attend closely,
I will speak."
"Yes, venerable sir," those monks assented to the Blessed One.
The Blessed One said this:
"And which, monks, are the three good thoroughbred horses? Here, monks, a certain good thoroughbred horse... etc. is endowed with speed and endowed with beauty and endowed with height and girth. These, monks, are the three good thoroughbred horses.
"And which, monks, are the three good thoroughbred persons? Here, monks, a certain good thoroughbred person... etc. is endowed with speed and endowed with beauty and endowed with height and girth.
"And how, monks, is a good thoroughbred person... etc. endowed with speed and endowed with beauty and endowed with height and girth? Here, monks, a monk, through the elimination of the mental corruptions, realised by his own direct knowledge, in this very life, the liberation of mind and the liberation by wisdom that are free from mental corruptions and, having entered upon them, dwells in them. This I say is his speed. But when asked a question about the higher teaching and higher discipline, he answers and does not evade. This I say is his beauty. And he is an obtainer of the requisites of robes, almsfood, lodging and medicine for the sick. This I say is his height and girth. Thus, monks, a good thoroughbred person is endowed with speed and endowed with beauty and endowed with height and girth. These, monks, are the three good thoroughbred persons." The tenth.