Re: [Pali] MN 12

As far as I'm understanding it, that's exactly the point: if it's easy for you, then it would be ridiculously easy for "a skilled archer, trained, practised, and tested." Thus the extreme ease that such an archer would find in this task is akin to the level of perfection that these four hypothetical disciples are, "in mindfulness, retentiveness, memory and lucidity of wisdom."

Mettā,

Chris

On Mon, Sep 26, 2016 at 12:41 AM, Kumara Bhikkhu kumara.bhikkhu@... [palistudy] <palistudy@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