SN 45-56 The Group of Connected Discourses on the Path – Mahāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 56 Linked Discourses on the Truths – Saccasaṁyutta > SN 56.45 Splitting Hairs

Linked Discourses 56.45 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 56.45

5. A Cliff – 5. Papātavagga

SN 56.45 Splitting Hairs – Vālasutta

At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ.

Then Venerable Ānanda robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Vesālī for alms.

Atha kho āyasmā ānando pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya vesāliṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.

He saw several Licchavi youths practicing archery near the meeting hall. They were shooting arrows from a distance through a small keyhole, shot after shot without missing.

Addasā kho āyasmā ānando sambahule licchavikumārake santhāgāre upāsanaṁ karonte, dūratova sukhumena tāḷacchiggaḷena asanaṁ atipātente, poṅkhānupoṅkhaṁ avirādhitaṁ.

When he saw this he thought,

Disvānassa etadahosi:

“These Licchavi youths really are trained, so well trained,

“sikkhitā vatime licchavikumārakā, susikkhitā vatime licchavikumārakā;

in that they shoot arrows from a distance through a small keyhole, shot after shot without missing.”

yatra hi nāma dūratova sukhumena tāḷacchiggaḷena asanaṁ atipātessanti poṅkhānupoṅkhaṁ avirādhitan”ti.

Then Ānanda wandered for alms in Vesālī. After the meal, on his return from almsround, he went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened.

Atha kho āyasmā ānando vesāliṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“idhāhaṁ, bhante, pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya vesāliṁ piṇḍāya pāvisiṁ.

Addasaṁ khvāhaṁ, bhante, sambahule licchavikumārake santhāgāre upāsanaṁ karonte dūratova sukhumena tāḷacchiggaḷena asanaṁ atipātente poṅkhānupoṅkhaṁ avirādhitaṁ.

Disvāna me etadahosi:

‘sikkhitā vatime licchavikumārakā, susikkhitā vatime licchavikumārakā;

yatra hi nāma dūratova sukhumena tāḷacchiggaḷena asanaṁ atipātessanti poṅkhānupoṅkhaṁ avirādhitan’”ti.

“What do you think, Ānanda?

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, ānanda,

Which is harder and more challenging:

katamaṁ nu kho dukkarataraṁ vā durabhisambhavataraṁ vā—

to shoot arrows from a distance through a small keyhole, shot after shot without missing? Or to take a horsehair split into seven strands and penetrate one tip with another tip?”

yo dūratova sukhumena tāḷacchiggaḷena asanaṁ atipāteyya poṅkhānupoṅkhaṁ avirādhitaṁ, yo vā sattadhā bhinnassa vālassa koṭiyā koṭiṁ paṭivijjheyyā”ti?

“It’s more difficult and challenging, sir, to take a horsehair split into seven strands and penetrate one tip with another tip.”

“Etadeva, bhante, dukkaratarañceva durabhisambhavatarañca yo vā sattadhā bhinnassa vālassa koṭiyā koṭiṁ paṭivijjheyyā”ti.

“Still, Ānanda, those who truly penetrate suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path penetrate something tougher than that.

“Atha kho, ānanda, duppaṭivijjhataraṁ paṭivijjhanti, ye ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ paṭivijjhanti …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ paṭivijjhanti.

That’s why you should practice meditation …”

Tasmātihānanda, ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yogo karaṇīyo …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yogo karaṇīyo”ti.