Faith & Pursuit of Liberation - Asivisopama Sutta (Samutta Nikaya)
There is this person who wants to live not die, who desires to live happily and avert any pain. The man hears a voice, “listen good man, do you know that there are these four serpents, deadly & venomous, whom you have to nourish, feed them time to time, bathe and put to rest time to time? If any one of these venomous serpents is agitated, you will get bitten and meet with death or suffering similar to death, do what you want to do”, the voice said. Startled by what he heard, the man begins to run aimlessly, to get away. The voice then says, “look good man there are five executioners who are also chasing right behind you, who would get to you any time and kill you. Do what you need to do!” The man afraid of the four venomous serpents, afraid of the five executioners, continues to flee. Listen good man, he hears the voice again, there is this sixth executioner, the one that is so intimate to you with a raised sword above your head , who wants to take your...