Five personal advantages

The Five Personal Advantages (Tib. rang 'byor lnga), half of the ten advantages of a precious human rebirth, are as follows:

• 1. being a human being
• 2. born in a central land
• 3. with faculties intact
• 4. lifestyle not harmful or wrong
• 5. 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."