Dear friends,
In my occasional spare time, I'm doing some
translating of the Anguttara Nikaya, and am working my
way through the Book of Ones. I have some questions
abut the following passaage - #1.5.7:
Seyyathaapi bhikkhave yaani kaanici rukkhajaataana.m
phandano tesa.m aggamakkhaayati, yadida.m mudutaaya
ceva kamma��ataaya ca. Evameva kho aha.m bhikkhave na
a��a.m ekadhammampi samanupassaami, ya.m eva.m
bhaavita.m bahuliikata.m mudu ca hoti kamma��a�ca
yathayida.m citta.m. Citta.m bhikkhave bhaavita.m
bahuliikata.m mudu ca hoti kamma��a�caati.
I've currently translated this as:
Just as, monks, of all the trees that grow(?) the
phandana(?) is declared to be the softest and most
pliable; in the same way, monks, no other thing do I
know that is so soft and pliable as a developed and
cultivated mind. A developed and cultivated mind is
truly soft and pliable.
My questions are - is "trees that grow" a suitable
translation for "rukkhajaata", and what is a good
translation for "phandana"? I couldn't find this word
in the PED. Also, I would appreciate any other
suggested improvements for the whole passage, if the
knowledgable Pali experts on this list see any.