The Dhammapada
Chapter Eleven -- Old Age
- When this world is ever ablaze, why
this laughter, why this jubilation? Shrouded in
darkness, why don't you seek the light?
- Behold this body, a painted image,
a mass of heaped up sores--infirm, full of
hankering, with nothing lasting or stable.
- Fully worn out is this body, a nest of
disease, and fragile. This foul mass breaks up,
for death is the end of life.
- These dove-coloured bones are like
gourds that lie scattered about in autumn; having
seen them, how can one seek delight?
- The body is a city built of bones, plastered
with flesh and blood, containing within decay and
death, pride and jealousy.
- 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.
- Persons of little learning grow old like
a bull: they grow only in bulk, but their wisdom
does not grow.
- Through many a
birth in samsara have I
wandered in vain, seeking the builder of this
house (of life). Repeated birth is indeed suffering!
- 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.
- Those who in youth have not led the
holy life, or have failed to acquire wealth, languish
like old cranes in a pond without fish.
- Those who in youth have not led the
holy life, or have failed to acquire wealth, lie
like worn-out arrows (shot from) a bow, sighing
over the past.
this laughter, why this jubilation? Shrouded in
darkness, why don't you seek the light?
a mass of heaped up sores--infirm, full of
hankering, with nothing lasting or stable.
disease, and fragile. This foul mass breaks up,
for death is the end of life.
gourds that lie scattered about in autumn; having
seen them, how can one seek delight?
with flesh and blood, containing within decay and
death, pride and jealousy.
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.
a bull: they grow only in bulk, but their wisdom
does not grow.
wandered in vain, seeking the builder of this
house (of life). Repeated birth is indeed suffering!
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.
holy life, or have failed to acquire wealth, languish
like old cranes in a pond without fish.
holy life, or have failed to acquire wealth, lie
like worn-out arrows (shot from) a bow, sighing
over the past.
