Nested Classes and Static Methods

Question

I was perusing the Java Tutorials on Nested Classes and I came across this...
[http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/java/javaOO/nested.html|http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/java/javaOO/nested.html]
I was reading the documentation and I read a slightly confusing statement. I was hoping some further discussion could clarify the matter. The documentation on "Nested Classes" says (I highlighted the two statements, in bold, I am having trouble piecing together.)
Static Nested Classes
As with class methods and variables, a static nested class is associated with its outer class. And like static class methods, a static nested class cannot refer directly to instance variables or methods defined in its enclosing class ? it can use them only through an object reference.
Note: A static nested class interacts with the instance members of its outer class (and other classes) just like any other top-level class. In effect, a static nested class is behaviorally a top-level class that has been nested in another top-level class for packaging convenience.
So this means a nested static inner class CANNOT refer to its own instanced variables, like a normal static method, but CAN refer to its outer class instanced variables?

Answer 1

So this means a nested static inner class CANNOT refer to its own instanced variables, like a normal static method, but CAN refer to its outer class instanced variables?No, it means that a static nested class cannot refer to instance variables of its enclosing class. Example:public class Foo {
    int i;
    static class Bar {
        int j = i; // WRONG! Bar class is static context
}~