SA 1172（一一七二） 毒蛇

Thus have I heard:

At one time the Buddha was staying at the Ghosita Monastery in the country of Kusinara.

At that time the World-Honored One told the bhikṣus, "It is like having four venomous snakes, fierce and poisonous, placed in a basket. At that time, there was a wise and intelligent person who sought happiness and disliked suffering, who sought life and disliked death. Then a certain person said to that person, 'You should now take this basket of venomous snakes, rub and bathe them, treat them with kindness and feed them, and take them out and in at the right time. If the four venomous snakes should harm you, they may kill you or bring you close to death. You should guard against them.' At that time, that person was terrified and fled. 'Suddenly there are five enemies with drawn swords chasing after you, seeking to kill you. You should guard against them.' At that time, that person was afraid of the four venomous snakes and the five enemies with drawn swords, and fled in terror.

Another person said to that person, 'Sir! There are six internal thieves who follow and watch for you. If they get the chance, they will kill you. You should guard against them.' At that time, that person was afraid of the four venomous snakes, the five enemies with drawn swords, and the six internal thieves, and fled in terror. Returning to an empty village, he saw an empty house, dilapidated and rotten, with all kinds of evil things. When grasped, they were all fragile and not solid.

Another person said to that person, 'Sir! There will be a group of bandits in this empty village who will certainly harm you.' At that time, that person was afraid of the four venomous snakes, the five enemies with drawn swords, the six internal thieves, the bandits in the empty village, and fled in terror. Suddenly on the road he came to a great river with swift and strong currents. He only saw that this shore had all kinds of fears, while the other shore was peaceful and happy, cool and fearless. There were no bridges or boats to cross to the other shore. He thought, 'I will gather grass and wood, bind them into a raft, and use my hands and feet to cross to the other shore.' Having thought this, he immediately gathered grass and wood, bound them into a raft on the shore, and used his hands and feet to cross the current.

Thus, that person escaped the four venomous snakes, the five enemies with drawn swords, the six internal thieves, and also escaped the bandits in the empty village. He crossed the swift current, leaving behind the various fears on this shore, and reached the other shore, which was peaceful and happy. I speak this parable to explain its meaning. Bhikṣu! The chest is a metaphor for this body, which is coarse and composed of the four great elements, formed from the four great elements, the essence of blood and semen, nourished by impure food, bathed and clothed, impermanent, changing, fragile, and perishable. The venomous snakes are a metaphor for the four great elements - the earth element, water element, fire element, and wind element. If the earth element disputes, it can cause death or near death, and the same is true for the water, fire, and wind elements. The five enemies with drawn swords are a metaphor for the five aggregates of grasping. The six internal thieves are a metaphor for the six kinds of love and joy. The empty village is a metaphor for the six internal sense bases. Good man! Observing the sense base of the eye is impermanent and perishable. The holder of the eye is also an impermanent and false dharma. The same is true for the sense bases of the ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind. The bandits in the empty village are a metaphor for the six external sense bases. The eye is harmed by desirable and undesirable forms. The ear by sounds, the nose by smells, the tongue by tastes, the body by tactile sensations, and the mind by desirable and undesirable dharmas. The swift current is a metaphor for the four streams - the stream of desire, the stream of existence, the stream of views, and the stream of ignorance. The river is a metaphor for the three kinds of craving - craving for desire, craving for form, and craving for formlessness. The many fears on this shore are a metaphor for having a body. The coolness and peace on the other shore is a metaphor for nirvāṇa without remainder. The raft is a metaphor for the eightfold noble path. The use of hands and feet to cross the current is a metaphor for the vigorous effort to reach the other shore. The abode of the brāhmaṇa is a metaphor for the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One.

"Thus, bhikṣu! The great teacher compassionately comforts the disciples and does what is to be done for them. I have now done what is to be done. You should also do what is to be done. In an empty and quiet place, under a tree, in a clean dwelling, spreading grass for a seat, in the open air, near a charnel ground, sitting far away, diligently practicing meditation. Be careful not to be negligent, causing regret later! This is my teaching method."

After the Buddha spoke this sūtra, the bhikṣus who heard what the Buddha said rejoiced and received it respectfully.