Hi, Dimitry and anyone else who's following,

I think that for this seventh "simile" -- actually, I think "comparison"
would be a better word here -- we need only look at the first sentence,
since the pattern after that is the same as all the others.

So here's what I make of the seventh and (since we're in the Chapter of the
Sevens) final comparison. Let's see what our friend the "strong man" is
going to get up to next! ...


"Ta.m ki.m maññatha, bhikkhave, katama.m nu kho vara.m: ya.m balavaa puriso
uddha.mpaada.m adhosira.m gahetvaa tattaaya lohakumbhiyaa pakkhipeyya
aadittaaya sampajjalitaaya sajotibhuutaaya: so tattha phe.nuddehaka.m
paccamaano sakimpi uddha.m gaccheyya sakimpi adho gaccheyya sakimpi tiriya.m
gaccheyya, ya.m vaa khattiyamahaasaalaana.m vaa braahma.namahaasaalaana.m
vaa gahapatimahaasaalaana.m vaa saddhaadeyya.m vihaara.m paribhuñjeyyaa"ti?"


"What do you think, monks; which is the better? If a strong man, having
gripped one heels up head down, were to put one down into a red-hot iron
cauldron, burning, blazing, glowing; and where there is boiling scum on top,
he were to go once up, once down, and also once sideways? Or, to derive
enjoyment from an abode given in faith by rich kshatriyas or brahmins or
householders?"


Derek.