法苑珠林 97.30

97.30

夫生則八識持。死則四大離散。迅矣百齡終歸磨滅。循環三界運轉靡停。故經曰。有始必終。既生則滅。聖教不虛自覩交臂。所以於此緣中略述六門。

Now, life is maintained by the eight consciousnesses, while death is the dispersal of the four great elements. Swift is a hundred years of age, ultimately returning to annihilation, cycling through the three realms and turning around without ceasing. Therefore the sūtra says: "Whatever has a beginning must have an end; once born, it must be destroyed." The noble teachings are not in vain, and one sees this plainly before one's eyes. Therefore, regarding this circumstance, I will briefly set forth six chapters.