Though one should live a hundred years
lazy, of little effort,
yet better is life for a single day
strongly making effort.
Explanation: A single day’s life of a wise person who is capable of strenuous effort, is nobler than even a hundred years of life of an individual who is lazy, incapable of making an effort and is wanting in initiative.
The Story of Venerable Sappadasa (Verse 112)
While residing at the Jetavana Monastery, the Buddha spoke this verse, with reference to Venerable Sappadasa.
Once a monk was not feeling happy with the life of a monk; at the same time he felt that it would be improper and humiliating for him to return to the life of a householder. So he thought it would be better to die. So thinking this, on one occasion, he put his hand into a pot where there was a snake but the snake did not bite him. This was because in a past existence the snake was a slave and the monk was his master. Because of this incident the monk was known as Venerable Sappadasa. On another occasion, Venerable Sappadasa took a razor to cut his throat; but as he placed the razor on his throat he reflected on the purity of his morality practice throughout his life as a monk and his whole body was suffused with delightful satisfaction (piti) and bliss (sukha). Then detaching himself from piti, he directed his mind to the development of insight knowledge and soon attained arahatship, and he returned to the monastery.
On arrival at the monastery, other monks asked him where he had been and why he took the knife along with him. When he told them about his intention to take his life, they asked him why he did not do so. He answered, I originally intended to cut my throat with this knife, but I have now cut off all moral defilements with the knife of insight knowledge. The monks did not believe him; so they went to the Buddha and asked, “Venerable Sir, this monk claims that he has attained arahatship as he was putting the knife to his throat to kill himself. Is it possible to attain arahat magga within such a short time?” To them the Buddha said, “Monks! Yes, it is possible; for one who is zealous and strenuous in the practice of tranquillity and insight development, arahatship can be gained in an instant. As the monk walks in meditation, he can attain arahatship even before his raised foot touches the ground.”