Seyyathāpi sāriputta daḷhadhammo dhanuggāho sikkhito katahattho katupāsano lahukena asanena appakasireneva tiriyaṃ tālacchāyaṃ atipāteyya, evaṃ adhimattasatimanto evaṃ adhimattagatimanto [PTS Page 083] [\q 83/] evaṃ adhimattadhitimanto evaṃ paramena paññāveyyattiyena samannāgatā.
Note the words Dhanuggaho (An archer). The Archer is an expert of his skill. Such an archer can bring down the crown of a palm tree with an arrow.
The Lord's (Tathagata) mind is so well trained (beyond compare) and is able to point out the Dhamma of the Lord and analyse it.
Most of the words in the text I quoted are not translatable; If you read the whole paragraph, you can get the idea. MN 12 explains the powers of the Tathagata. This particular passage explain Tathagatas 'experiential knowledge' (Panna), and Tathagata's ability to answer any question put to him.
Arrow is straightened by the archer. The Tathagata's mind is straightened by the Four Satipatthanas.
Hope this will be of some benefit to you.
On Mon, Sep 26, 2016 at 1:11 PM, Kumara Bhikkhu kumara.bhikkhu@... [Pali] <Pali@yahoogroups.com> wrote:True, but then even I could do that. Why bother saying "a skilled archer, trained, practised, and tested"?
SBC neilstegall@... [Pali] wrote thus at 12:58 AM 18-09-16:
Ease of movement and penetration, arrow through a shadow.
Sent from my iPhone
On Sep 17, 2016, at 05:49, Branislav Kovacevic ja_sam_branko@... [Pali] <Pali@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
Dear All,
I came across the following simile in Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi's translation of the MN 12: Mahasihanada sutta
"Just as a skilled archer, trained, practised, and tested, could easily shoot a light arrow across the shadow of a palm tree, suppose that they were even to that extent perfect in mindfulness, retentiveness, memory, and lucidity of wisdom."
I do not get this simile. What does it want to convey? Something which is done easily? But what shooting an arrow across the shadow of a palm tree has to do with that?
Could you please help with this.
Many thanks
Branko
--Metta is being friendly to everybody