Yes. Normally this sort phrase is attached to a response that goes over how it's possible for others to attain such things, so without that it seemed to dangle there as an unfinished rhetorical flourish. It just seemed interesting to me.santa100 wrote:Here is your post:By "hyperbolic praise" you seemed to imply "exaggerated" praise."It is astounding and amazing, Master Gotama! Who else, apart from Master Gotama, can gain at will, without trouble or difficulty, such a noble high and luxurious bed?"
This is unanswered, so it seems like some sort of hyperbolic praise, though elsewhere with this sort of thing we see the phrase 'Brahman, there are not only one hundred other such monks...' which is lacking here. I find that interesting.
Well, I see no reason they oughtn't to be.The "one hundred other such monks" part seems to imply the disciples should automatically be included in AN 3.63 just like the Buddha.
Now, are you suggesting that the Buddha attains this at will, and arahants do not? That, in other words, the Buddha did not strive as a Bodhisatta? That it was an attainment at will, without difficulty, while for arahants only it is an attainment not at will, with difficulty?
Because as I see it, both attained awakening after effort, the Buddha and arahants. Thereupon, they could attain the noble bed at will, but prior to this there was effort, in each case. Furthermore, the brahmaviharas and jhanas are also available to every arahant at will (even if just first jhana).
Everyone puts forth an effort first. Then, after success, it becomes at will, effortless.