3.
The Discourse on Desirable Qualities
73.
"Monks, there are these ten things that are desirable, lovely, agreeable, and rare in the world.
What are the ten?
Wealth is desirable, lovely, agreeable, and rare in the world;
beauty is desirable, lovely, agreeable, and rare in the world;
health is desirable, lovely, agreeable, and rare in the world;
morality is desirable, lovely, agreeable, and rare in the world;
the holy life is desirable, lovely, agreeable, and rare in the world;
friends are desirable, lovely, agreeable, and rare in the world;
great learning is desirable, lovely, agreeable, and rare in the world;
wisdom is desirable, lovely, agreeable, and rare in the world;
teachings are desirable, lovely, agreeable, and rare in the world;
heavens are desirable, lovely, agreeable, and rare in the world.
"For these ten things, monks, that are desirable, lovely, agreeable, and rare in the world, there are ten things that are obstacles - laziness and inactivity are obstacles to wealth, lack of adornment and lack of decoration are obstacles to beauty, doing what is unsuitable is an obstacle to health, evil friendship is an obstacle to morality, non-restraint of the faculties is an obstacle to the holy life, deceiving is an obstacle to friends, not engaging in recitation is an obstacle to great learning, not listening and not inquiring are obstacles to wisdom, non-pursuit and non-reviewing are obstacles to teachings, wrong practice is an obstacle to heavens. For these ten things, monks, that are desirable, lovely, agreeable, and rare in the world, these ten things are obstacles.
"For these ten things, monks, that are desirable, lovely, agreeable, and rare in the world, there are ten things that are nutriments - industriousness and non-laziness are nutriments for wealth, adornment and decoration are nutriments for beauty, doing what is suitable is a nutriment for health, good friendship is a nutriment for morality, restraint of the faculties is a nutriment for the holy life, not deceiving is a nutriment for friends, engaging in recitation is a nutriment for great learning, listening and inquiring are nutriments for wisdom, pursuit and reviewing are nutriments for teachings, right practice is a nutriment for heavens. For these ten things, monks, that are desirable, lovely, agreeable, and rare in the world, these ten things are nutriments." The third.