I’ve always felt both similes had the same structure as well.nirodh27 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 01, 2021 2:46 pm You've put a lot more on the table SDC, I will think about that
Only one remark:
This attitude expressed in this thoroughbred/wild colt distinction recalls me the cook simile in the SN47. It's not the same message, but there are similarities. The bad cook simply cooks what thinks is good following his desires, while the good cook makes some more questions, analysing what the master (the mind) wants and prefer so to serve better and better dishes. This is the attitude of the Dhamma and it is shared by both the similes, the thoroughbred looks at meditation not as simply food, but to get something more from it and understanding what is the bigger meaning, the cook by observations tries to get something more from his work that simply to appease the hunger of the master. They both reason on long term and on how the cooking/food must be used/understood.He's focused on one thing without trying to discern the bigger picture.
Also both the good cook and the thoroughbred attitude obtain the same result: to avoid the hindrances and to get praised and rewarded (the jhanas or even more).
To take a little of what Pulsar just put on the table, it does seem to be a reference to the direction of sensuality for the wild colt. I have little doubt the food is a sign, an indication of that bigger picture for the thoroughbred, though not the “sign of the mind” (cittanimitta of SN 47.8). Perhaps more of a reference to the direction of escape in terms of hindrances like you say? The opening amid confinement of AN 9.42? Nevertheless it seems clear that it is not in reference to a specific object, lest it be clarified that said object is a point of view, not an isolated point. (I’m likely going to have MN 19 for next week’s sutta, which I think really helps illustrate this).