Vālasutta

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ. Atha kho āyasmā ānando pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya vesāliṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi. Addasā kho āyasmā ānando sambahule licchavikumārake santhāgāre upāsanaṁ karonte, dūratova sukhumena tāḷacchiggaḷena asanaṁ atipātente, poṅkhānupoṅkhaṁ avirādhitaṁ. Disvānassa etadahosi: “sikkhitā vatime licchavikumārakā, susikkhitā vatime licchavikumārakā; yatra hi nāma dūratova sukhumena tāḷacchiggaḷena asanaṁ atipātessanti poṅkhānupoṅkhaṁ avirādhitan”ti.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof. Then Venerable Ānanda robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Vesālī for alms. He saw several Licchavi youths practicing archery near the town hall. They were shooting arrows from a distance through a small keyhole, shaft after shaft without missing. When he saw this he thought, “These Licchavi youths really are trained, so well trained, in that they shoot arrows from a distance through a small keyhole, shaft after shaft without missing.”

Atha kho āyasmā ānando vesāliṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “idhāhaṁ, bhante, pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya vesāliṁ piṇḍāya pāvisiṁ. Addasaṁ khvāhaṁ, bhante, sambahule licchavikumārake santhāgāre upāsanaṁ karonte dūratova sukhumena tāḷacchiggaḷena asanaṁ atipātente poṅkhānupoṅkhaṁ avirādhitaṁ. Disvāna me etadahosi: ‘sikkhitā vatime licchavikumārakā, susikkhitā vatime licchavikumārakā; yatra hi nāma dūratova sukhumena tāḷacchiggaḷena asanaṁ atipātessanti poṅkhānupoṅkhaṁ avirādhitan’”ti.

Then Ānanda wandered for alms in Vesālī. After the meal, on his return from almsround, he went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened.

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, ānanda, katamaṁ nu kho dukkarataraṁ vā durabhisambhavataraṁ vā— yo dūratova sukhumena tāḷacchiggaḷena asanaṁ atipāteyya poṅkhānupoṅkhaṁ avirādhitaṁ, yo vā sattadhā bhinnassa vālassa koṭiyā koṭiṁ paṭivijjheyyā”ti? “Etadeva, bhante, dukkaratarañceva durabhisambhavatarañca yo vā sattadhā bhinnassa vālassa koṭiyā koṭiṁ paṭivijjheyyā”ti. “Atha kho, ānanda, duppaṭivijjhataraṁ paṭivijjhanti, ye ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ paṭivijjhanti …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ paṭivijjhanti.

“What do you think, Ānanda? Which is harder and more challenging: to shoot arrows from a distance through a small keyhole, shaft after shaft without missing? Or to take a horsehair split into seven strands and penetrate one tip with another tip?” “It’s more difficult and challenging, sir, to take a horsehair split into seven strands and penetrate one tip with another tip.” “Still, Ānanda, those who truly penetrate suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path penetrate something tougher than that.

Tasmātihānanda, ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yogo karaṇīyo …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yogo karaṇīyo”ti. Pañcamaṁ.

That’s why you should practice meditation …”