the sick person

There are these three types of sick person to be found in the world. What three?

There is the sick person who, whether he obtains the proper diet, proper medicines, proper nursing or not, will not recover from his illness.

Again, there is the sick person who, whether he obtains the proper diet, the proper medicines, the proper nursing or not, will recover from his illness anyway.

And again, there is the sick person who will recover from his illness only if he gets the proper diet, medicines and nursing.

It is for this last type that proper diet, medicine and nursing should be prescribed, but the others should be looked after also.

Now, there are three types of person in the world who can be compared to the three types of sick person. What three?

There is the person who, whether he gets the chance of seeing the Tathagata and learning the Dhamma and discipline or not, will not enter the perfection of things that are skillful.

Again, there is the person who, whether he gets a chance of seeing the Tathagata and learning the Dhamma and discipline or not, will enter the perfection of things that are skillful.

And again, there is the person who will enter into the perfection of things that are skillful only if he gets a chance of seeing the Tathagata and learning the Dhamma and discipline.

It is on account of this last person that the Dhamma is proclaimed, but it should be taught to the others also.