.jfif)
Why do we laugh, why do we rejoice,
When time keeps moving without a choice?
The world is changing, the years pass by,
And every living thing must age and die.
The body is beautiful, but cannot stay,
Its strength and beauty will fade away.
Bones and blood, a fragile frame,
Nothing in this world remains the same.
[Chorus]
Time keeps moving, life moves on,
Do not waste the days that come and gone.
Though the body fades away,
Let wisdom be your light each day.
When the years have turned us gray,
Let the Dhamma guide our way.
Though the world may fade from sight,
Wisdom keeps the spirit bright.
[Verse 2]
A royal chariot may shine with gold,
But even its beauty will grow old.
The body too must fade and fall,
But truth and virtue outlive them all.
Growing older does not mean we know,
Wisdom comes when we learn and grow.
Let every day bring something new,
Let every thought be clear and true.
[Chorus]
Time keeps moving, life moves on,
Do not waste the days that come and gone.
Though the body fades away,
Let wisdom be your light each day.
[Verse 3]
I searched for the builder of this house,
Through countless lives, through every vow.
Again and again, I came to be,
Bound by craving, unable to be free.
Now the builder has been found,
The rafters broken, the roof torn down.
Craving has ended, the heart is free,
Nibbana shines eternally.
[Bridge]
Do not wait until your hair turns gray,
To begin the path of truth today.
Every breath is a chance to grow,
Every moment lets wisdom flow.
[Final Chorus]
Time keeps moving, life moves on,
Do not waste the days that come and gone.
Though the body fades away,
Let wisdom be your light each day.
When the years have turned us gray,
Let the Dhamma guide our way.
Though the world may fade from sight,
Wisdom keeps the spirit bright.
[Outro]
Old age is not the end of the road,
When wisdom lights the heart we hold.
Every day is a chance to see,
Every breath can set us free.
The Chapter of Aging: The Dhammapada Reminds Us of Impermanence and the Value of Wisdom
The eleventh chapter of the Dhammapada reflects on aging, illness, and death, reminding people not to become lost in the pleasures of an impermanent world. It encourages the cultivation of wisdom and the pursuit of liberation from suffering.
The teachings of the Jaravagga, or Chapter of Aging, found in the Khuddaka Nikaya of the Sutta Pitaka, Dhammapada, offer profound reflections on the impermanent nature of life, the deterioration of the body, and the pursuit of wisdom.
The chapter begins by questioning why people rejoice and delight in a world that is continually consumed by the fires of suffering and change. It reminds us that many people remain covered by the darkness of ignorance and fail to seek the lamp of wisdom that can illuminate their lives.
One of its central teachings is to contemplate the body as it truly is. The Dhammapada describes the human body as a structure made of bones, flesh, and blood. It is unstable and subject to aging, illness, and death. No matter how beautiful the body may appear, it cannot escape deterioration.
The Buddha also compares unwanted bones to dried gourds in the autumn season, reminding people not to become overly attached to outward beauty while neglecting the deeper truth of life.
Another important teaching concerns the difference between the deterioration of the body and the enduring value of virtue. The chapter explains that even beautifully decorated royal chariots eventually become old and worn. The body likewise deteriorates with time, but the Dhamma of the virtuous does not grow old in the same way.
This teaching suggests that human development should not focus solely on physical growth or material possessions. Greater importance should be given to the cultivation of virtue and wisdom, which can guide people throughout their lives.
The Jaravagga also warns against those who possess little learning and allow their lives to pass without developing wisdom. Such people are compared to an aging bull whose body grows larger while its understanding does not grow accordingly.
The teaching therefore emphasizes that growing older does not automatically mean becoming wiser. Wisdom requires continuous learning, reflection, and self-cultivation.
In the passage concerning the house-builder, the Buddha describes the search for the cause of repeated birth and suffering. He speaks of wandering through samsara, experiencing many births and the suffering that accompanies them.
Having discovered the house-builder, the Buddha declares that the builder will no longer construct another house. The rafters have been broken, the ridgepole destroyed, and the mind has reached Nibbana, free from conditioned formations. Craving has been brought to an end.
This imagery represents the destruction of the causes of suffering and the cessation of craving, which lead to liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
The chapter also warns those who fail to pursue the holy life and cultivate virtue during their youth. When they reach old age, they may become weary and regret opportunities that have already passed.
Such people are compared to an old crane standing sadly in a muddy pond where the fish have disappeared, and to arrows that have been used up and are no longer in the quiver. These images illustrate the sorrow of wasted opportunities and the inability to turn back time.
The central message of the Jaravagga is to remain mindful of age and time, cultivate wisdom, and understand the impermanent nature of the body. Aging and death are realities that everyone must face, while the cultivation of virtue and wisdom can begin at any moment.
These teachings remain relevant in contemporary life, particularly in preparing for old age with dignity, caring for physical and mental well-being, continuing to learn throughout life, and using the time available in meaningful ways.
The Jaravagga ultimately reminds us not to wait until old age to seek wisdom. The body may deteriorate with time, but virtue and wisdom cultivated throughout life can continue to serve as a guiding light.
The chapter teaches that although the body is impermanent, the development of wisdom and the understanding of truth provide a meaningful path toward freedom from suffering.
[คำแนะนำเพิ่มเติมเกี่ยวกับการใช้งาน: ตามข้อจำกัดของระบบ AI ในปัจจุบัน การสร้างภาพที่มีตัวอักษรภาษาไทยอาจจะยังมีความคลาดเคลื่อนของตัวสะกดหรือรูปสระอยู่บ้าง หวังเป็นพื้นฐานของการศึกษาและจะพัฒนาให้สมบูรณ์ต่อไป]
ไม่มีความคิดเห็น:
แสดงความคิดเห็น