有一次，佛陀遊化到跋祇國首府毘舍離城，住在城北的大林重閣精舍。

這天，尊者阿難早上準備進城去乞食，一出門，就看到一群來自城裡的離車族小孩，以精舍大門的小門孔作箭靶，正在比賽射箭。

尊者阿難看了一會兒，只見這些孩子們，個個都是神射手，箭箭都精準地射入了那小門孔內，沒有一支偏離，心中不禁對這麼高難度的技巧感到神奇。

乞食回來後，尊者阿難去見佛陀，將射箭一事告訴佛陀。

佛陀因而告訴尊者阿難說：

「你覺得這些孩子箭箭射入那小門孔內難呢？還是將一根毛分成一百段，拿出其中的一段為箭靶，每一箭都射中箭靶難？」

「世尊！當然是射中一根毛的一百分之一難。」

「阿難！但這不會比能對苦聖諦、苦集聖諦、苦滅聖諦、苦滅道跡聖諦生起如實的體證還難。

所以，阿難！應當盡全力來修學苦聖諦、苦集聖諦、苦滅聖諦、苦滅道跡聖諦。」

On one occasion, the Buddha was in Pisali, capital of Vrji for traveling and teaching. He was staying at Kuragarasala, located in north of the city.

On this date, Venerable Ananda was preparing to go to the city for begging for foods; upon existing the gate, he saw a group of Licchavi youths form the city that used a small hole on the gate of Kuragarasala as target and engaging in archery competition.

Venerable Ananda watched for a while and learned that each of the youth was a sharp archer: Each arrow was accurately shot into the small hole of the gate; none of the arrow was off the mark. He was intrigued by the skills, which required high degree of difficulty.

After finishing begging for foods, Venerable Ananda went to see the Buddha and reported to the Buddha about the archery competition.

The Bhddha hence told Venerable Ananda:

“What do you think that it is more difficult for the youths: Shooting the arrow into the small hole of the gate or dividing a hair into one hundred portion, take one portion as target and each arrow would hit the target?”

“The World Respected One, of course it would be more difficult to shoot at the target of one hundredth of a hair.”

“Ananda, but this would not be more difficult than verifying the Noble Truth of Suffering, the Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering, the Noble Truth of Cessation of Suffering and the Noble Truth of the way Leading to the Cassation of Suffering.”

Therefore, Ananda, you should try your best to learn the Noble Truth of Suffering, the Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering, the Noble Truth of Cessation of Suffering and the Noble Truth of the way leading to the Cassation of Suffering.”

一、本則故事取材自《雜阿含第四○五經》、《相應部第五六相應第四五經》。

1. This story was derived from Samyutagama 405th Sutra, and Samyuta-nikeya 56th Samyukta 45th Sutra.

2. The Four Noble Truth was the Dharma which allowed the Buddha to verify Liberation. They were the main contents of The First Turning of the Dharma Wheel after his Buddhahood attainment. It indicates the rank of the Four Noble True in the Buddha Dharma and that learning the Buddha Dharma could be started from the Four Noble Truth.

3. To a Buddhist, the Four Noble True is a household word. Similar to the Dependent Origination, it seems not too difficult to explain and comprehend, but it would be difficult in practice and verify. One can take a glimpse from the metaphor illustrated by the Buddha and should not be taken lightly.