法苑珠林 70.35

70.35

Sixth is old age. Indeed, the suffering of old age: hair turns white and teeth fall out; the eyes grow blind and dark; the ears do not hear clearly; vigor departs and decline arrives; the skin slackens and the face wrinkles; the hundred joints ache; walking is extremely painful; sitting and standing bring groans; grief and sorrow afflict the mind, the conscious spirit gradually fades, and one forgets immediately after turning around; life's days rush toward an end, and tears stream when speaking of it. Seeing that impermanence and calamities change like this, I practiced to seek the path, not wishing to undergo it again; this was my sixth teacher. The Buddha then spoke a gāthā, saying: