Mindfully Facing Disease and Death by Analayo

Author:Analayo
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Windhorse Publications Ltd

XV.2 TRANSLATION5

[A monastic said]: “Venerable Sāriputta, the brahmin Dhānañjāni is now sick, quite seriously ill, because of which he might pass away.”6

Having heard this being said, the venerable Sāriputta took his robe and bowl, left the Southern Mountains and approached Rājagaha. He stayed in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrels’ Feeding Ground.

Then, at daybreak when the night was over, the venerable Sāriputta put on his robe, took his bowl, and approached the house of the brahmin Dhānañjāni. The brahmin Dhānañjāni saw from afar that the venerable Sāriputta was coming. Having seen it, he in turn wanted to get up from his bed.7 Seeing that the brahmin Dhānañjāni wanted to get up from his bed, the venerable Sāriputta in turn stopped him, saying: “Brahmin Dhānañjāni, do not get up from the bed. There is another bed; I will seat myself separately.”

Then the venerable Sāriputta sat on that bed. Being seated, he said: “Dhānañjāni, how is your ailment now? Are you eating and drinking much or little? Is the affliction decreasing and not increasing?”8

Dhānañjāni replied: “My ailment is becoming serious. I am not eating or drinking. The affliction is still increasing and I do not experience a decrease. Venerable Sāriputta, it is just as if a strong man were to cleave one’s head with a sharp knife, only giving rise to extreme pain. Now my headache is also just like that. Venerable Sāriputta, it is just as if a strong man were to keep tightening a rope around one’s head, only giving rise to extreme pain. Now my headache is also just like that.

“Venerable Sāriputta, it is just as if a cow butcher or his son were to cut up the belly of a cow with a sharp knife, only giving rise to extreme pain. Now my stomach ache is also just like that. Venerable Sāriputta, it is just as if two strong men were to take hold of a weak man and roast him over a fire, only giving rise to extreme pain. Now my bodily pains are also just like that, my whole body is giving rise to pain, which is still increasing and not decreasing.”9

The venerable Sāriputta said: “I will now question you, Dhānañjāni, answer according to your understanding. Brahmin Dhānañjāni, what do you think, what is better, being in hell or being an animal?” Dhānañjāni replied: “Being an animal is better.”

[The venerable Sāriputta] asked again: “Dhānañjāni, what is better, being an animal or being a ghost?” Dhānañjāni replied: “Being a ghost is better.”

[The venerable Sāriputta] asked again: “Dhānañjāni, what is better, being a ghost compared to being a human?” Dhānañjāni replied: “Being a human is better.”

[The venerable Sāriputta] asked again: “Dhānañjāni, what is better, being a human or being [one of] the Four Heavenly Kings?” Dhānañjāni replied: “Being [one of] the Four Heavenly Kings is better.”

[The venerable Sāriputta] asked again: “Dhānañjāni, what is better, being [one of] the Four Heavenly Kings or being [one of] the devas of the Thirty-three?” Dhānañjāni replied: “Being [one of] the devas of the Thirty-three is better.

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