諸經要集 20.93

20.93

As the *Pratītyasamutpāda-vibhāṅga-nirdeśa-sūtra* states: “The Bhagavat told [them]: ‘Old age has five kinds of decline and deterioration: First is the decline and deterioration of beard and hair, because their color changes and ruins. Second is the decline and deterioration of bodily appearance, because bodily form, complexion, and physical strength all decline and deteriorate. Third is the decline and deterioration of actions: when speaking, breath surges up and panting becomes increasingly hurried, and the body trembles and shakes; when standing, one becomes stooped, because the waist and spine have no strength; when sitting, one bends low, because the body is emaciated and weak; when walking, one must rely on a cane, because the body is frail and decrepit; whatever one reflects upon, one’s intellect is dull and obtuse, because mindfulness is confused and disordered. Fourth is the decline and deterioration of enjoyment: one's enjoyment of present requisites is meager; one cannot currently enjoy any implements of play and pleasure; regarding the realms traversed by the physical sense-faculties, one cannot traverse them swiftly and sharply, or cannot traverse them at all. Fifth is the decline and deterioration of the life-faculty: one’s lifespan is about to end and is adjacent to death, and one cannot endure even slight causes of death.’”