Dhammapada on Death

And he who lives a hundred years, not seeing the immortal place, a life of one day is better if a man sees the immortal place.

Earnestness is the path of immortality (Nirvana), thoughtlessness the path of death. Those who are in earnest do not die, those who are thoughtless are as if dead already.

Not in the sky, not in the midst of the sea, not if we enter into the clefts of the mountains, is there known a spot in the whole world where death could not overcome (the mortal).

Death subdues a man who is gathering flowers, and whose mind is distracted, before he is satiated in his pleasures.

`All created things perish,' he who knows and sees this becomes passive in pain; this is the way to purity.

He who seeking his own happiness punishes or kills beings who also long for happiness, will not find happiness after death.

This body is wasted, full of sickness, and frail; this heap of corruption breaks to pieces, life indeed ends in death.

Sons are no help, nor a father, nor relations; there is no help from kinsfolk for one whom death has seized.

Death carries off a man who is gathering flowers and whose mind is distracted, as a flood carries off a sleeping village.

He who seeking his own happiness does not punish or kill beings who also long for happiness, will find happiness after death.

As a cowherd with his staff drives his cows into the stable, so do Age and Death drive the life of men.

All men tremble at punishment, all men fear death; remember that you are like unto them, and do not kill, nor cause slaughter.

`Here I shall dwell in the rain, here in winter and summer,' thus the fool meditates, and does not think of his death.

Men who have not observed proper discipline, and have not gained treasure in their youth, perish like old herons in a lake without fish.

Death comes and carries off that man, praised for his children and flocks, his mind distracted, as a flood carries off a sleeping village.

But those who, when the law has been well preached to them, follow the law, will pass across the dominion of death, however difficult to overcome.

As many kinds of wreaths can be made from a heap of flowers, so many good things may be achieved by a mortal when once he is born.

After a stronghold has been made of the bones, it is covered with flesh and blood, and there dwell in it old age and death, pride and deceit.

Look upon the world as a bubble, look upon it as a mirage: the king of death does not see him who thus looks down upon the world.

Not nakedness, not platted hair, not dirt, not fasting, or lying on the earth, not rubbing with dust, not sitting motionless, can purify a mortal who has not overcome desires.

Thy life has come to an end, thou art come near to death (Yama), there is no resting-place for thee on the road, and thou hast no provision for thy journey.

As soon as he has considered the origin and destruction of the elements (khandha) of the body, he finds happiness and joy which belong to those who know the immortal (Nirvana).

Him I call indeed a Brahmana who has no interests, and when he has understood (the truth), does not say How, how? and who has reached the depth of the Immortal.

If an occasion arises, friends are pleasant; enjoyment is pleasant, whatever be the cause; a good work is pleasant in the hour of death; the giving up of all grief is pleasant.

Thou art now like a sear leaf, the messengers of death (Yama) have come near to thee; thou standest at the door of thy departure, and thou hast no provision for thy journey.

He who knows that this body is like froth, and has learnt that it is as unsubstantial as a mirage, will break the flower-pointed arrow of Mara, and never see the king of death.

He who says what is not, goes to hell; he also who, having done a thing, says I have not done it. After death both are equal, they are men with evil deeds in the next world.

The fault of others is easily perceived, but that of oneself is difficult to perceive; a man winnows his neighbour's faults like chaff, but his own fault he hides, as a cheat hides the bad die from the gambler.

All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him.

Some people are born again; evil-doers go to hell; righteous people go to heaven; those who are free from all worldly desires attain Nirvana.

From pleasure comes grief, from pleasure comes fear; he who is free from pleasure knows neither grief nor fear.

`All created things are grief and pain,' he who knows and sees this becomes passive in pain; this is the way that leads to purity.