Five personal advantages
The five personal advantages (Wyl. rang 'byor lnga), half of the ten advantages of a precious human birth, are:
- being a human being
- born in a central land
- with faculties intact
- lifestyle not harmful or wrong
- with faith in the three pitakas
Commentary
Chökyi Drakpa says:
"Being born as a human being means that you have a proper physical support for practising the Dharma. Having all five faculties intact means you can study the teachings and contemplate them. In a central land means to be born in a place where the teachings are available. A lifestyle that is not harmful or wrong means that your body, speech and mind are in harmony with the Dharma. Having faith in Buddha’s teachings means recognizing that they provide a special path leading to freedom from samsara, and a state which surpasses the situation of the worldly gods. When you possess these five endowments, 'the five personal advantages' are said to be complete."