法苑珠林 48.39

48.39

That which is impermanent / Signifies the principle of rise and fall: / What is born must die; / The cessation of this is bliss. / Like a river's rapid flow, / Passing on, never to return, / Human life is just like this: / What has passed does not come back. / Day and night for living beings, / Life is pared away by a blade; / The vanishing of lifespan / Is like water in a small pool. / All that is permanent comes to an end; / All that is high must also fall. / Those who meet must part; / Those who are born must die. / Living beings harm each other, / Thereby destroying their lives; / Following the actions into which they fall, / They themselves suffer calamity. / Though one lives for a hundred years, / One still dies and passes away; / Wearied by old age, / Sickness suddenly arrives. / This day has already passed; / Life is reduced accordingly, / Like fish in dwindling water: / What joy is there in this? / In old age, complexion fades; / Beset by disease, one naturally breaks down; / The physical form rots and putrefies; / Such is the end of life. / What is the use of this body, / Constantly leaking foul substances, / Tormented by illness, / Afflicted with old age and death? / There are no children to rely on, / Nor father or brother; / Pressed by death, / There is no kin to depend upon. / Day and night indolent and careless, / In old age not halting lust, / Having wealth yet not giving, / Not accepting the Buddha's words: / Possessing these four obscurations, / One deceives and harms oneself.