Dear Piya and Yong Peng,
"Dhamma is timeless" is one of "frame" staements to describe the
value (Guna??) of Dhamma.
It showed in S1.2.10 Samiddhi (cf: Chinese SA 1078 sutta), S4.3.1
sambahulaa (cf: Chinese SA 1099 sutta), Sutta-Nipata verse 567 (cf:
Theragatha verse 837 sutta). A6.10 Mahaanaama (cf: Chinese SA 931
sutta),
Taking S1.2.10 as example, it sounds that there are two meanings
for "akaalika". One is "proper timing", another one is "immediate,
taking no time". Chinese translation of similar stanza is shown
on "Yogaacaariya Bhuumi Saastra" (T30.372a).
I look up in CSCD and find Pali's wording are:" sandi.t.thiko
aya.m dhammo ehipassiko opaneyyiko paccatta.m veditabbo vi~n~nuuhii."
Ven. Bodhi's translation is (Connected Discourse, page 98):
"(while) Dhamma is directly visible, immediate, inviting one to
see, applicable, to be personally experienced by the wise."
My questions are:
1. It sounds Ven. Bodhi translate "sandi.t.thiko" as "directly
visible" to make it clear. According to dictionary,
its meaning is simply "visible". Is that right?
2. What is the case and word structure of "opaneyyiko"?
3. It sounds Ven. Bodhi translate "paccatta.m veditabbo" as
"personally rxperienced", it sounds either "paccatta.m" or
"veditabbo" are both "experienced", is that right?
4. Would you put a grammatical analysis to this sentence
in detail to help me understand this "frame" description?