法句譬喻經 19.p6

19.p6

And then Buddha added—"There are four opportunities given to every one who is leading a religious life, to attain deliverance and to avoid sorrow; and what are the four? First, when young and capable of high moral resolves secondly, when rich and possessed of means; thirdly, when happy enough to gain the knowledge of the three honourable ones, and so have the opportunity of widening one's capabilities of merit; fourthly, when by experience a man has learned the vanity of earthly things, to act accordingly. Those who avail themselves of these opportunities will in the end certainly attain wisdom;” and then the World-honoured one added these stanzas:—