法苑珠林 99.59

99.59

如分別緣起初勝法門經云。世尊告曰。老有五種衰損。一者鬚髮衰損。以彼鬚髮色變壞故。二者身相衰損。形色膚力皆衰損故。三者作業衰損。發言氣上喘息逾急身顫掉故。住便僂曲。以其腰脊皆無力故。坐即低屈。身羸弱故。行必按杖。身虛劣故。凡所思惟智識愚鈍念惛亂故。四者受用衰損。於現資具受劣故。於戲樂具一切不能現受用故。於諸色根所行境界。不能速疾明利而行。或不行故。五者命根衰損。壽量將盡隣近死故。遇少死緣不堪忍故。阿含經云。頭白有四因緣。一者火多。二者憂多。三者病多。四者種早。白人病瘦有四因緣。一少食。二有憂。三多愁。四有病。未調有四事先不語人。一頭白。二老。三病。四死。是四事亦可避。亦不可却。一切味不過八種。一苦。二澁。三辛。四鹹。五淡。六甜。七酢。八不了了味。

As the Sūtra on the Distinctive Initial Supreme Dharma-Door of Dependent Origination states: The World-Honoured One declared: Old age has five kinds of decline: first, the decline of beard and hair, because their color alters and deteriorates; second, the decline of physical appearance, because form, complexion, skin, and physical strength all deteriorate; third, the decline of bodily actions, because in uttering words the breath ascends with panting becoming ever more rapid, the body trembles and shakes, when standing one bends stooped because the waist and spine have no strength, when sitting one droops low because the body is frail, when walking one must lean on a staff because the body is empty and weak, and whatever one contemplates, the intellect is dull and memory is confused; fourth, the decline of enjoyment, because enjoyment of present requisites becomes inferior, one can no longer enjoy any instruments of amusement, and regarding the sensory spheres traversed by the physical faculties, one cannot move swiftly and clearly, or cannot move at all; fifth, the decline of the life faculty, because one's lifespan is nearly exhausted and death is imminent, being unable to withstand even slight causes of death. The Āgama states: Graying hair has four causes and conditions: first, excess of fire; second, excess of worry; third, excess of illness; fourth, early seeding. A fair person becoming sick and emaciated has four causes and conditions: first, eating little; second, having worry; third, much sorrow; fourth, having illness. An untamed person has four things that do not tell someone beforehand: first, graying hair; second, old age; third, illness; fourth, death. These four things can neither be avoided nor repelled. All flavors do not exceed eight kinds: first, bitter; second, astringent; third, pungent; fourth, salty; fifth, bland; sixth, sweet; seventh, sour; eighth, indeterminate flavor.