In the spring of the Xuwu year, Buddha encountered a snake. The snake considered itself human and found the sight very strange. Buddha asked, "Why a human?" The snake replied, "Humans eat all sorts of things, but they taste delicious. I befriended humans." Buddha said, "Humans do not understand cultivation and regard you as an oddity. If they saw you, they would surely tear you apart and eat you." The snake said, "All I seek is delicious food. If I can be one of those delicacies, I have no regrets." Buddha smiled. "The world is full of all kinds of things, some joyful, some sorrowful. You have heard of them, but never experienced them yourself. I hope you will not forget what you said today." With that, he vanished without a trace.
