[1738] Then the Venerable Ānanda, having walked for alms in Vesālī, after his meal, when he had returned from his alms round, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the Venerable Ānanda said this to the Blessed One: "Here, venerable sir, in the morning I dressed, and taking bowl and robe I entered Vesālī for alms. I saw a number of Licchavi youths practicing archery in the council hall (saṇṭhāgāra), shooting arrows from a distance through a small keyhole, arrow after arrow, without missing. When I saw this, it occurred to me: 'Trained indeed are these Licchavi youths! Well trained indeed are these Licchavi youths, in that they shoot arrows from a distance through a small keyhole, arrow after arrow, without missing.'"
"What do you think, Ānanda? Which is more difficult, or more difficult to accomplish: that one should shoot an arrow from a distance through a small keyhole, arrow after arrow, without missing, or that one should pierce with a tip the tip of a hair split into seven strands?"
"This, venerable sir, is both more difficult and more difficult to accomplish: that one should pierce with a tip the tip of a hair split into seven strands."
"And yet, Ānanda, they pierce something still harder to pierce who pierce as it really is (yathābhūta): 'This is suffering (dukkha)' … who pierce as it really is: 'This is the way of practice leading to the cessation of suffering.' Therefore, Ānanda, exertion should be made [to realize]: 'This is suffering' … exertion should be made [to realize]: 'This is the way of practice leading to the cessation of suffering.'"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.