5.
The Discourse on the Hair
1115.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Vesālī in the Great Wood in the Pinnacled Hall.
Then the Venerable Ānanda, having dressed in the earlier period of the day, taking his bowl and robe, entered Vesālī for almsfood.
The Venerable Ānanda saw many Licchavi youths in the training hall practising archery, shooting arrows from afar through a small keyhole, fletching after fletching, without missing.
Having seen him, this occurred to him:
"These Licchavi youths are indeed trained, these Licchavi youths are indeed well-trained;
since indeed from afar through a small keyhole they will shoot arrows, fletching after fletching, without missing."
Then the Venerable Ānanda, having walked for almsfood in Vesālī, after the meal, having returned from his alms round, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the Venerable Ānanda said this to the Blessed One - "Here I, venerable sir, having dressed in the earlier period of the day, taking my bowl and robe, entered Vesālī for almsfood. I saw, venerable sir, many Licchavi youths in the training hall practising archery, shooting arrows from afar through a small keyhole, fletching after fletching, without missing. Having seen him, this occurred to me: "These Licchavi youths are indeed trained, these Licchavi youths are indeed well-trained; since indeed from afar through a small keyhole they will shoot arrows, fletching after fletching, without missing."
"What do you think, Ānanda, which is more difficult to do or more difficult to attain - that one should shoot an arrow from afar through a small keyhole, fletching after fletching, without missing, or that one should pierce tip with tip of a hair split sevenfold?" "This indeed, venerable sir, is more difficult to do and more difficult to attain - that one should pierce tip with tip of a hair split sevenfold." "But, Ānanda, they penetrate what is more difficult to penetrate, those who penetrate as it really is: 'This is suffering', etc. who penetrate as it really is: 'This is the practice leading to the cessation of suffering.'"
"Therefore, Ānanda, exertion is to be done regarding 'This is suffering', etc. exertion is to be done regarding 'This is the practice leading to the cessation of suffering.'" The fifth.