MN144 - Channovada
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I heard thus.

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. Friend Cunda, let's approach venerable Channa to inquire about his health, 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?

Friend 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.

Friend 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.

Friend 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.

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

Friend Sàriputta, ask, I will explain.

Friend 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'?

Friend 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.

Friend 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'?

Friend, 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.

Then venerable Mahàcunda said to venerable Channa, Friend Channa, constant attention should be given to this too in the dispensation of the Blessed One. To the settled there is change, to the not settled there is no change. When there is no change, there is delight. When there is delight, there is no inclination. When there is no inclination, there is no coming and going. When there is no coming and going, there is no disappearing and appearing. When there is no disappearing and appearing, there is no here or there, or in between. That is the end of unpleasantness.

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. Venerable sir, venerable Channa has put an end to his life, what are his movements after death?

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

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

Sàriputta, 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.

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

 

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Also:

Samyutta Nikaya/Samyutta4/34-Salayatana-Samyutta/09-Channavaggo/34.9.4.  

Channo - Venerable Channa

1. At one time the Blessed One was living in the squirrels' sanctuary in the bamboo grove in Rajagaha.

2. At that time venerable Sàriputta, venerable Mahacunda and venerable Channa lived on the Gijjha peak.

3. At that time venerable Channa was in unpleasantness, gravely ill.

4. Venerable Sàriputta getting up from his seclusion in the evening approached venerable Maha-Cunda.

and said to him: Venerable Chunda, let us approach venerable Channa, to attend on him.

Venerable Mahacunda agreed to his suggestion.

5. Then venerable Sàriputta and venerable Mahacunda approached venerable Channa and sat on the prepared seats.

6. Sitting, venerable Sàriputta said to venerable Channa: Friend Channa, are you feeling all right? Are your unpleasant feelings decreasing and not increasing? Is the decreasing end that is evident and not the increasing end?

7. Friend Sàriputta, I am not all right, I feel the increasing end of grave unpleasant feelings, not the decreasing end.

8. Friend, a lot of air, presses my top and I feel sharp unpleasant feelings, as though a strong man was carving my top with a sharp carving knife, so I do not feel all right, it is the increasing end

9. Friend, I feel sharp unpleasant feelings in my head as though a strong man was giving my head a tight head wrap with a leather cord, so I do not feel all right, it is the increasing end.

10. Friend, a lot of air, presses my inside and I feel sharp unpleasant feelings, as though a clever slaughterer of cows or his apprentice was carving my inside with a sharp carving knife, so I do not feel all right, it is the increasing end.

11. Friend, I feel a lot of burning in my body, as though two strong men taking a weaker one by his hands and feet and were burning and baking him, so I do not feel all right, it is the increasing end.

12. Friend Sàriputta, I will take a weapon, I do not wish to live.

13. Friend, Channa, do not take a weapon. Endure it, we wish you would endure it. If venerable Channa does not get suitable food and medicine, we will search out suitable food and medicine for venerable Channa. If venerable Channa does not have a suitable attendant, I will attend on venerable Channa. Therefore do not take a weapon, endure it, we wish you would endure it.

14. Friend Sàriputta, it is not that I do not get suitable food, suitable medicine, or a suitable attendant, yet I have done my duties by the Teacher with pleasure long since, in a manner suitable for a disciple. Friend Sàriputta, bear it, the monk Channa takes a weapon without blame!

15. We like to question venerable Channa about a certain matter, if venerable Channa gives us permission.

Friend Sàriputta, question, I will explain my experiences.

16. Friend, Channa, do you consider the eye, eye-consciousness and things cognizable by eye-consciousness, are mine, I am there, they are my self?

Repeat for ear and nose.

Do you consider the tongue, tongue-consciousness and things cognizable by tongue-consciousness, are mine, I am there, they are my self?

Repeat for the body.

Channa, do you consider the mind, mind-consciousness and things cognizable by mind-consciousness, are mine, I am there, they are my self?

17. Friend Sàriputta, I do not consider, the eye, eye-consciousness, and things cognizable by eye consciousness, are mine, I am there or they are my self.

Repeat for ear and nose.

I do not consider the tongue, tongue-consciousness and things cognizable by tongue-consciousness, are mine, I am there or they are my self.

Repeat for the body.

Friend Sàriputta, I do not consider the mind, mind-consciousness and things cognizable by mind-consciousness, are mine, I am there or they are my self.

18. Friend, Channa, seeing what, do you consider the eye, eye-consciousness and things cognizable by eye-consciousness, are not mine, I am not there, they are not my self?

Repeat for ear and nose.

Seeing what do you consider the tongue, tongue-consciousness and things cognizable by tongue-consciousness, are not mine, I am not there, they are not my self?

Repeat for the body.

Channa, seeing what in the mind, mind-consciousness and things cognizable by mind-consciousness do you consider they are not mine, I am not there, they are not my self?

19. Friend Sàriputta, seeing cessation and thoroughly knowing cessation in the eye, eye-consciousness, and things cognizable by eye consciousness, I consider they are not mine, I am not there, they are not my self.

Repeat for ear and for the nose.

Seeing cessation and thoroughly knowing cessation in the tongue, tongue-consciousness and things cognizable by tongue-consciousness I consider they are not mine, I am not there and they are not my self.

Repeat for the body.

Friend Sàriputta, seeing cessation and thoroughly knowing cessation in the mind, mind-consciousness and things cognizable by mind-consciousness I consider the mind, mind-consciousness and things cognizable by mind-consciousness are not mine, I am not there and they are not my self.

20. Then venerable Mahacunda said to venerable Channa: Therefore, friend, Channa, this is also suitable to be considered constantly, in the dispensation of the Blessed One `To the settled, there is vacillation. Not settled there is no vacillation. When there is no vacillation, there is repose. When there is repose, there is no coming and going. Without coming and going thee is no disappearing and appearing. Not disappearing or appearing, you are neither here nor there nor in between the two. That is the end of unpleasantness.'

21. Then venerable Sàriputta and venerable Mahacunda advising venerable Channa, thus got up from their seats and went away.

22. As soon as those venerable ones went away venerable Channa took his life.

23. Venerable Sàriputta approached the Blessed One, worshipped and sat on a side.

24. Sitting on a side venerable Sàriputta said to the Blessed One: Venerable sir, venerable Channa has taken his life. What are his movements hereafter? Sàriputta, didn't the monk Channa declare his blamelessness to you?

25. Venerable sir, there is a village of the Vajjis named Pubbavijjhana. In that village there are families which are friendly, attached, and also opposing venerable Channa.

26. Sàriputta, there may be families that are friendly, attached, and those opposing. Sàriputta, yet I do not say, it is blameworthy. If someone gives up this body and takes up another body that I say is blameworthy. The monk Channa took his life without a blame. Bear it like that.

 

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