Before long, alas! this body will lie on the earth, despised, without understanding, like a useless log.
A shared theme
Mortality & the Passing of Life
Every tradition here faces death squarely: life is brief, possessions do not travel with us, and the wise live with the end in view. Far from being morbid, these teachings turn awareness of mortality into urgency to live well now.
Buddhism
5 versesChristianity
3 versesWhereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Confucianism
3 versesThe Master standing by a stream, said, "It passes on just like this, not ceasing day or night!"
Hinduism
0 versesNo passage in the collection yet.
Islam
3 versesEvery soul shall have a taste of death: And only on the Day of Judgment shall you be paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved far from the Fire and admitted to the Garden will have attained the object (of Life): For the life of this world is but goods and chattels of deception.
Jainism
3 versesAs the fallow leaf of the tree falls to the ground, when its days are gone, even so the life of men (will come to its close); Gautama, be careful all the while! As a dew-drop dangling on the top of a blade of Kusa-grass lasts but a short time, even so the life of men; Gautama, be careful all the while!
Judaism
4 versesSo teach us to number our days, That we may get us a heart of wisdom.
Sikhism
0 versesNo passage in the collection yet.
Sufism
6 versesTHIS world is a stage or market-place passed by pilgrims on their way to the next. It is here that they are to provide themselves with provisions for the way; …
Taoism
0 versesNo passage in the collection yet.
Where the traditions differ
The Abrahamic faiths and Sikhism set death within a judgement and a life beyond, though they describe it differently. Hinduism and Jainism teach rebirth until liberation; Buddhism teaches rebirth without a permanent self. Confucianism is famously reticent ('while you do not know life, how can you know death?'), and Taoism treats death as a natural transformation not to be feared. What they share is the counsel to loosen attachment and use the time given.