法苑珠林 66.26

66.26

"What is the suffering of death? When a person dies, four hundred and four diseases arise simultaneously; the four great elements are about to disperse, and the soul and spirit are unsettled. When about to die, the knife-winds dismember the form, with nowhere free from pain; white sweat flows forth and both hands clutch at the empty air. Family members within and without stand to his left and right, grieving and weeping with pain penetrating to the marrow of their bones, unable to contain themselves. The dying person departs; the wind wanders and breath is severed; the fire is extinguished and the body grows cold. Wind first, fire second, the spirit departs! The body lies stiff and straight, knowing nothing more. Within ten days to a month, the flesh rots and blood flows, swelling, putrefying, and stinking, utterly unapproachable; cast into the wilderness, flocks of birds feed on it; the flesh exhausted, the bones dry, skulls scattered in different places. Is this suffering or not?" They answered, "It is truly great suffering."