Thag 6.13
Sirimanda
translated from the Pali by
Thanissaro Bhikkhu
Alternate translation: Olendzki (excerpt)
X

The updated version is freely available at

This version of the text might be out of date. Please click here for more information

Rain soddens what's covered
& doesn't sodden what's exposed.
So open up what's covered up,
so that it won't get soddened by the rain.

Attacked by death
	is the world,
surrounded by aging,
beset by the arrow of craving,
always obscured by desire.

Attacked by death
	is the world,
& encircled by aging,
constantly beaten, with no shelter,
	like a thief
sentenced to punishment.

They encroach like masses of flame,
	these three:
	death, aging, & illness.
There's no strength to confront them,
no speed to run away.

Make the day not-in-vain,
	a little or a lot.
However much
the day passes,
that's how much less
	is life.
Your last day approaches.
	This isn't your time
	to be heedless.