人离恶道，得为人难。
既得为人，去女即男难。
既得为男，六根完具难。
六根既具，生中国难。
既生中国，值佛世难。
既值佛世，遇道者难。
既得遇道，兴信心难。
既兴信心，发菩提心难。
既发菩提心，无修无证难。
— 释迦牟尼佛
《四十二章经》: 第三十六章
For people to depart from evil paths, to attain as humans is difficult. Already attained as humans, to leave female form to immediately be male is difficult. Already attained as males, to have the six roots complete is difficult. With the six roots already complete, to be born in a middle land [where the Dharma is ‘central’] is difficult. Already born in a middle land, to encounter a Buddha in this world is difficult. Already encountering a Buddha in this world, to meet a practitioner of the path is difficult. Already attaining a practitioner of the path, to give rise to the faithful mind is difficult. Already given rise to the faithful mind, to give rise to the Bodhi Mind is difficult. Already given rise to the Bodhi Mind, to be [cultivated yet] without cultivation and [realised yet] without realisation is difficult.
— Śākyamuni Buddha
(Sūtra Of 42 Sections: 36th Section)
