Upasena and the Viper

At one time the venerables Sāriputta and Upasena were staying near Rājagaha in the Cool Grove, under the Snake’s Hood Grotto. ^[1]

Now at that time a viper fell on Upasena’s body.

He addressed the mendicants,

“Come, reverends, lift this body onto a cot and carry it outside ^[2]

before it’s scattered right here

like a handful of hay.”

When he said this, Sāriputta said to him,

“But we don’t see any impairment in your body or deterioration of your faculties.

Yet you say:

‘Come, reverends, lift this body onto a cot and carry it outside

before it’s scattered right here

like a handful of hay.’”

“Reverend Sāriputta, there may be an impairment in body or deterioration of faculties for someone who thinks:

‘I am the eye’ or ‘the eye is mine.’

Or ‘I am the ear … nose … tongue … body …’

Or ‘I am the mind’ or ‘the mind is mine.’

But I don’t think like that.

So why would there be an impairment in my body or deterioration of my faculties?”

“That must be because Venerable Upasena has long ago totally eradicated I-making, mine-making, and the underlying tendency to conceit.

That’s why it doesn’t occur to you:

‘I am the eye’ or ‘the eye is mine.’ Or ‘I am the ear …

nose … tongue … body …’

Or ‘I am the mind’ or ‘the mind is mine.’”

Then those mendicants lifted Upasena’s body onto a cot and carried it outside.

And his body was scattered right there

like a handful of hay.