when they got old & disease like cancer came upon their life, as they had no one to care for them or did not want to burden others (since they clearly accepted their time was up), they simply went to a forest or mountain and 'used the knife'
they took a knife & calmly cut their throat
but most want a comfortable bed with mod cons & another to press the button for them
however, for folk like Sarcophagus, that crave for another life, Buddha said using the knife was blameworthy
but for those free from craving for any kaya (collection of aggregates or 'body'), Buddha said using the knife was blameless
Venerable Sariputta said to the venerable Channa: “I hope you are getting well, friend Channa, I hope you are comfortable. I hope your painful feelings are subsiding and not increasing, and that their subsiding, not their increase, is apparent.”
“Friend Sariputta, I am not getting better, venerable sir. I am not comfortable. My severe pains are increasing, not lessening. There are signs of their increasing, and not of their lessening. Extreme forces slice through my head, just as if a strong man were slicing my head open with a sharp sword... Extreme pains have arisen in my head, just as if a strong man were tightening a turban on my head with a tough leather strap... Extreme forces carve up my stomach cavity, just as if an expert butcher or his apprentice were to carve up the stomach cavity of an ox with a sharp butcher's knife... There is an extreme burning in my body, just as if two strong men, seizing a weaker man with their arms, were to roast and broil him over a pit of hot embers. I am not getting better, venerable sir. I am not comfortable. My severe pains are increasing, not lessening. There are signs of their increasing, and not of their lessening… their increase and not their subsiding is apparent. I shall use the knife, friend Sariputta; I have no desire to live.”
“Let the venerable Channa not use the knife. Let the venerable Channa live. We want the venerable Channa to live. If he lacks suitable food, I will go in search of suitable food for him. If he lacks suitable medicine, I will go in search of suitable medicine for him. If he lacks a proper attendant, I will attend on him. Let the venerable Channa not use the knife. Let the venerable Channa live. We want the venerable Channa to live.”
“Friend Sariputta, it is not that I have no suitable food and medicine or no proper attendant. But rather, friend Sariputta, the Teacher has long been worshipped by me with love, not without love; for it is proper for the disciple to worship the Teacher with love, not without love. Friend Sariputta, remember this: the bhikkhu Channa will use the knife blamelessly.
Then when the venerable Sariputta and the venerable Maha Cunda had advised the venerable Channa thus, they rose from their seats and went away. Then, soon after they had gone, the venerable Channa used the knife.
Then the venerable Sariputta went to the Blessed One and the Blessed One said:
"Sariputta, when one lays down this body [collection] and takes up a new body [collection], then I say one is blameworthy. There was none of that in the bhikkhu Channa; the bhikkhu Channa used the knife blamelessly.”
That is what the Blessed One said. The venerable Sariputta was satisfied and delighted in the Blessed One’s words.
