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Buddhism

SN 1:51 · Old Age (Jarā Sutta)

Thai temple painting: Prince Vessantara gives away the white elephant
Vessantara Jātaka, Chapter 2 (Himavanta Forest) · Thai, Rattanakosin, c. 1850–1870 · Walters Art Museum

“What is good      all the way through old age?

What is good      when established?

What is the treasure of human beings?

What can’t be stolen by thieves?”

The Buddha:

“Virtue is good      all the way through old age.

Conviction is good      when established.

Discernment is the treasure of human beings.

Merit can’t be stolen by thieves.”

See also: AN 7:6–7; Dhp 151; Dhp 333


Translated by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu. © 2014 / rev. 2017 Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu — released under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 licence, for free distribution only. Source: dhammatalks.org (Metta Forest Monastery).

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