{"collection":"Samyutta Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_sn35.238/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_sn35.238","id":"suttacentral_sn35.238","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/sn35.238/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Samyutta Nikaya"],"text":"\u201cMendicants, suppose there were four venomous vipers of awesome might. Then a person would come along who wants to live and doesn\u2019t want to die, who wants to be happy and recoils from pain. They\u2019d say to him, \u2018My man, here are four venomous vipers of awesome might. They must be periodically picked up, washed, fed, and put to sleep. But when one or other of these four venomous vipers gets angry with you, you\u2019ll meet with death or deadly pain. So then, my man, do what has to be done.\u2019 Then that man, terrified of those four venomous vipers, would flee this way or that. They\u2019d say to him, \u2018My man, there are five deadly enemies chasing you, thinking: \u201cWhen we catch sight of him, we\u2019ll murder him right there!\u201d So then, my man, do what has to be done.\u2019 Then that man, terrified of those four venomous vipers and those five deadly enemies, would flee this way or that. They\u2019d say to him, \u2018My man, there\u2019s a sixth hidden killer chasing you with a drawn sword, thinking: \u201cWhen I catch sight of him, I\u2019ll chop off his head right there!\u201d So then, my man, do what has to be done.\u2019 Then that man, terrified of those four venomous vipers and those five deadly enemies and the hidden killer, would flee this way or that. He\u2019d see an empty village. But whatever house he enters is vacant, deserted, and empty. And whatever vessel he touches is vacant, hollow, and empty. They\u2019d say to him, \u2018My man, there are bandits who raid villages, and they\u2019re striking now. So then, my man, do what has to be done.\u2019 Then that man, terrified of those four venomous vipers and those five deadly enemies and the hidden killer and the bandits, would flee this way or that. He\u2019d see a large deluge, whose near shore is dubious and perilous, while the far shore is a sanctuary free of peril. But there\u2019s no ferryboat or bridge for crossing over. Then that man would think, \u2018Why don\u2019t I gather grass, sticks, branches, and leaves and make a raft? Riding on the raft, and paddling with my hands and feet, I can safely reach the far shore.\u2019 And so that man did exactly that. Having crossed over and gone to the far shore, the brahmin stands on solid ground. I\u2019ve made up this simile to make a point. And this is the point. \u2018Four venomous vipers of awesome might\u2019 is a term for the four principal states: the elements of earth, water, fire, and air. \u2018Five deadly enemies\u2019 is a term for the five grasping aggregates, that is: form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness. \u2018The sixth hidden killer with a drawn sword\u2019 is a term for relishing and greed. \u2018Empty village\u2019 is a term for the six interior sense fields. If an astute, competent, intelligent person investigates that in relation to the eye, it appears vacant, hollow, and empty. If an astute, competent, intelligent person investigates that in relation to the ear \u2026 nose \u2026 tongue \u2026 body \u2026 mind, it appears vacant, hollow, and empty. \u2018Bandits who raid villages\u2019 is a term for the six exterior sense fields. The eye is struck by both agreeable and disagreeable sights. The ear \u2026 nose \u2026 tongue \u2026 body \u2026 mind is struck by both agreeable and disagreeable ideas. \u2018Large deluge\u2019 is a term for the four floods: the floods of sensual pleasures, desire to be reborn, views, and ignorance. \u2018The near shore that\u2019s dubious and perilous\u2019 is a term for substantial reality. \u2018The far shore, a sanctuary free of peril\u2019 is a term for extinguishment. \u2018The raft\u2019 is a term for the noble eightfold path, that is: right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion. \u2018Paddling with hands and feet\u2019 is a term for rousing energy. \u2018Crossed over, gone to the far shore, the brahmin stands on solid ground\u2019 is a term for a perfected one.\u201d","title":"The Simile of the Vipers","tradition":"Samyutta Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":668}