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 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.