“What decays, what does not decay?
What is declared the deviant path?
What is the impediment to wholesome states?
What undergoes destruction night and day?
What is the stain of the holy life?
What is the bath without water?“How many fissures are there in the world
Wherein the mind does not stand firm?
We’ve come to ask the Blessed One this:
How are we to understand it?”“The physical form of mortals decays,
Their name and clan does not decay.
Lust is declared the deviant path,
Greed the impediment to wholesome states.“Life undergoes destruction night and day;
Women are the stain of the holy life:
Here’s where menfolk are enmeshed.
Austerity and the holy life—
That is the bath without water.“There are six fissures in the world
Wherein the mind does not stand firm:
Laziness and negligence,
Indolence, lack of self-control,
Drowsiness and lethargy—
Avoid these fissures completely.”
sn.1.76 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)
Does Not Decay
- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi
- Editor: Blake Walsh
Getting Old
“What gets old, what doesn’t grow old?What’s called a deviation?
What’s a roadblock for skillful qualities?
What is ending day and night?
What’s the stain of celibacy?
What’s the waterless bath?
How many holes are there in the world,
where one’s wealth leaks out?
We’ve come to ask the Buddha;
how are we to understand this?”
“The physical form of mortals gets old,
but their name and clan don’t.
Lust is called a deviation,
and greed obstructs skillful qualities.
Youth is ending day and night.
Women are the stain of celibacy,
to which this generation clings.
Austerity and celibacy
are the waterless bath.
There are six holes in the world,
where one’s wealth leaks out:
laziness and negligence,
lack of initiative and lack of restraint,
sleepiness and sloth.
You should completely get rid of these holes!”