At one time the Blessed One lived in the squirrels' sanctuary in the bamboo grove in Rajagaha. At that time, venerable Sàriputta, venerable Mahàcunda and venerable Channa lived on the Gijjha peak. At that time venerable Channa was seriously ill. Venerable Sàriputta getting up from his seclusion in the evening approached venerable Mahàcunda and said. ßFriend Cunda, let's approach venerable Channa to inquire about his health,û Venerable Mahàcunda accepting venerable Sàriputta's suggestion, both approached venerable Channa. After exchanging friendly greetings with venerable Channa they sat on a side and venerable Sàriputta said, `Friend Channa, how are you feeling? Would you survive? Are the unpleasant feelings decreasing or increasing? Do the feelings show the increasing end or the decreasing end?û

ßFriend Sàriputta, I do not feel well, will not survive. My unpleasant feelings are severe and increasing, not decreasing. The unpleasant feelings are increasing until the end. Friend Sàriputta, my top hurts a lot. I feel as though a strong man was giving me a headdress with a strong headband. I do not feel well and will not survive. My unpleasant feelings are severe and increasing, not decreasing. The unpleasant feelings are increasing until the end. Friend Sàriputta, my belly hurts a lot as though a lot of air was turning about in my belly. I feel as though a clever butcher or his apprentice was carving my belly with a sharp butcher's knife. I do not feel well and will not survive. My unpleasant feelings are severe and increasing, not decreasing. The unpleasant feelings are increasing until the end. Friend Sàriputta, there is a lot of burning in my body. I feel as though two strong men taking me by my hands and feet are pulling me to a pit of burning embers and are scorching and burning me. I do not feel well and will not survive. My unpleasant feelings are severe and increasing, not decreasing. The unpleasant feelings are increasing until the end. Friend Sàriputta, I will take a weapon to end life.û

ßFriend Channa, do not take a weapon, do survive. We desire that you survive. If venerable Channa does not get suitable nourishment, I will find them for venerable Channa. If venerable Channa does not get suitable medical requisites, I will find them for venerable Channa. If venerable Channa does not have a suitable attendant, I will attend to venerable Channa. Friend Channa, do not take a weapon, do survive. We desire that you survive.û

ßFriend Sàriputta, it is not that I'm in want of suitable nourishment, or suitable medical requisites, or a suitable attendant, yet my duties by the Teacher are done long ago, with pleasure and not with displeasure.

Friend Sàriputta, for a disciple who has done his duties by the Teacher pleasantly, there is nothing wrong if he takes a weapon to end life, remember it as that.û

ßFriend Channa, I will ask a certain question if venerable Channa would volunteer to explain.û

ßFriend Sàriputta, ask, I will explain.û

ßFriend Channa, is your reflection, `Eye, eye-consciousness, and things cognizable by eye consciousness, are me, I'm in them, they are self?' Is your reflection, `Ear, ear-consciousness, and things cognizable by ear -consciousness, are me, I'm in them and they are self?' Is your reflection, `Nose, nose-consciousness, and things cognizable by nose-consciousness, are me, I'm in them, they are self?' Is your reflection, `Tongue, tongue-consciousness, and things cognizable by tongue-consciousness, are me, I'm in them, they are self?' Is your reflection, `Body, body-consciousness, and things cognizable by body-consciousness, are me, I'm in them, they are self?' Is your reflection, `Mind, mind-consciousness, and things cognizable by mind-consciousness, are me, I'm in them, they are self'?û

ßFriend Sàriputta, eye ... ear, ... nose, ... tongue ... body ... mind, mind-consciousness, and things cognizable by mind-consciousness, are not me, I'm not in them, they are not self.û

ßFriend Channa, seeing what in the eye, eye-consciousness, and things cognizable by eye-consciousness do you realize, `Eye, eye-consciousness, and things cognizable by eye consciousness are not me, I'm not in them and they are not self?' Friend Channa, seeing what in the ear, ... nose, ... taste, ... body, ... mind, mind-consciousness, and things cognizable by mind-consciousness do you realize, mind, mind-consciousness, and things cognizable by mind-consciousness are not me, I'm not in them and they are not self'?û

ßFriend, Sàriputta seeing the cessation of the eye, eye-consciousness, and things cognizable by eye-consciousness I realized, `eye, eye-consciousness, and things cognizable by eye consciousness are not me, I'm not in them, and they are not self.' Friend Sàriputta, seeing the cessation of ear, ... nose, ... taste, ... body, ... mind, mind-consciousness, and things cognizable by mind-consciousness I realized, mind, mind-consciousness, and things cognizable by mind-consciousness are not me, I'm not in them and they are not self.û

Venerable Sàriputta and venerable Mahcunda, having advised venerable Channa, in this manner got up from their seats and went away. Soon after they had gone venerable Channa took a weapon and put an end to his life. Then venerable Sàriputta approached the Blessed One, worshipped, sat on a side and said. ßVenerable sir, venerable Channa has put an end to his life, what are his movements after death?û

ßSàriputta, wasn't the faultlessness of the bhikkhu Channa declared in your presence?û

ßVenerable sir, in Pabbajira, the village of the Vajjã's, the families of venerable Channa's friends, well-wishers and earlier relations live.û

ßSàriputta, there may be the families of venerable Channa's friends, well-wishers and earlier relatives, I say, there is no fault to that extent. Sàriputta, if someone gives up this body and seizes another, I say it is a fault. In the bhikkhu that fault is not apparent. Bhikkhu Channa took his life faultlessly.û

The Blessed One said thus and venerable Sàriputta delighted in the words of the Blessed One.