sn.35.69 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)

Upasena

On one occasion the Venerable Sāriputta and the Venerable Upasena were dwelling at Rajagaha in the Cool Grove, in the

Snake’s Hood Grotto. Now on that occasion a viper had fallen on the Venerable Upasena’s body. Then the Venerable Upasena addressed the bhikkhus thus: “Come, friends, lift this body of mine on to the bed and carry it outside before it is scattered right here like a handful of chaff.”

When this was said, the Venerable Sāriputta said to the Venerable Upasena: “We do not see any alteration in the Venerable Upasena’s body nor any change in his faculties; yet the Venerable Upasena says: ‘Come, friends, lift this body of mine on to the bed and carry it outside before it is scattered right here like a handful of chaff.’”

“Friend Sāriputta, for one who thinks, ‘I am the eye’ or ‘The eye is mine’; ‘I am the ear’ or ‘The ear is mine’ … ‘I am the mind’ or ‘The mind is mine,’ there might be alteration of the body or a change of the faculties. But, friend Sāriputta, it does not occur to me, ‘I am the eye’ or ‘The eye is mine’; ‘I am the ear’ or ‘The ear is mine’ … ‘I am the mind’ or ‘The mind is mine,’ so why should there be any alteration in my body or any change in my faculties?”

“It must be because I-making, mine-making, and the underlying tendency to conceit have been thoroughly uprooted in the Venerable Upasena for a long time that it does not occur to him, ‘I am the eye’ or ‘The eye is mine’; ‘I am the ear’ or ‘The ear is mine’ … ‘I am the mind’ or ‘The mind is mine.’”

Then those bhikkhus lifted the Venerable Upasena’s body on to the bed and carried it outside. Then the Venerable Upasena’s body was scattered right there just like a handful of chaff.

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

---

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.
Now at that time a viper fell on Upasena’s body,
and he addressed the mendicants,
“Come, reverends, lift this body onto a cot and carry it outside
before it’s scattered right here
like a handful of chaff.”
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 chaff.’”
“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 ego, possessiveness, 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 chaff.