Texts from the Buddhist canon : commonly known as Dhammapada

. ful
OLD AGEi loi
in. using it, he is now poor." Then Buddha said, " Brahmans
! there are four things ta the world difficult to do
those who can do them shall certainly obtain much hap-
piness (merit), and escape poverty. And what are the
four ? First, when in the heyday of youth not to be disdainful;
secondly, when advancing in years to give up
thoughts about pleasure (sensual indulgence) ; thirdly,
when rich, to be ever mindful of charity ; fourthly, to give
respectful attention to the words of a wise teacher. It is
for want of observing these four rules that this old Brahman
(gentleman) has come to his present condition, and
is like an old stork sitting beside a dried- up pond. And
then the World-honoured added these stanzas, and said :
— ;
" To be constantly (morning and niglit) disdain-
and supercilious, when old still to be lustful,
having wealth to be niggardly, to reject the words
of Buddha—these four propensities, what miseries
do they bring ; and, alas ! when old age comes (how
do they add to), the withered form and the worn-out
appearance ! The man who, when young, pleases
himself, when old shall be trodden down. Not
walking continently (in mature years), riches shall
slip from him (when old)— even as the white stork
that sits alone by the dried-up pool, so he who has
disregarded the Rules of a Moral Life shall come
to poverty. Old and feeble, with exhausted
powers—what good can follow anxious thought.
When old, like autumn leaves, decayed and with-
out covering, life ebbed out and
"
dissolution at
hand, little good repentance then !
And then Buddha added— " There are four opportunities
given to every one who is leading a religious life, to attain
deliverance and to avoid sorrow ; and what are the four ?