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The Dhammapada - Chapter 11 - Old Age v146 - 156

buddhafootbuddhafoot Veteran
edited May 2006 in Philosophy
Old Age

146. When this world is ever ablaze, why this laughter, why this jubilation? Shrouded in darkness, will you not see the light?

147. Behold this body — a painted image, a mass of heaped up sores, infirm, full of hankering — of which nothing is lasting or stable!

148. Fully worn out is this body, a nest of disease, and fragile. This foul mass breaks up, for death is the end of life.

149. These dove-colored bones are like gourds that lie scattered about in autumn. Having seen them, how can one seek delight?

150. This city (body) is built of bones, plastered with flesh and blood; within are decay and death, pride and jealousy.

151. Even gorgeous royal chariots wear out, and indeed this body too wears out. But the Dhamma of the Good does not age; thus the Good make it known to the good.

152. The man of little learning grows old like a bull. He grows only in bulk, but, his wisdom does not grow.

153. Through many a birth in samsara have I wandered in vain, seeking in the builder of this house (of life). Repeated birth is indeed suffering!

154. O house-builder, you are seen! You will not build this house again. For your rafters are broken and your ridgepole shattered. My mind has reached the Unconditioned; I have attained the destruction of craving. 13

155. Those who in youth have not led the holy life, or have failed to acquire wealth, languish like old cranes in the pond without fish.

156. Those who in youth have not lead the holy life, or have failed to acquire wealth, lie sighing over the past, like worn out arrows (shot from) a bow.

-bf

Comments

  • buddhafootbuddhafoot Veteran
    edited May 2006
    I still find it interesting that the culture of Buddha looked at life as suffering and finding some way of ending this cycle of rebirth.

    While in the West - we are taken with the idea of living forever or having something of "us" that lives forever...

    -bf
  • BrigidBrigid Veteran
    edited May 2006
    Wow! That's powerful. It speaks directly to the regrets in old age of a life not spent well.
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