Alchemy of Happiness, ch. 3

SufismAlchemy of Happiness, ch. 3

THIS 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; …

☽ Brevity of life ☽ Nothing is carried away

The same idea in other traditions

JudaismPsalm 90:12

So teach us to number our days, That we may get us a heart of wisdom.

ConfucianismAnalects 9.17

The Master standing by a stream, said, "It passes on just like this, not ceasing day or night!"

BuddhismDhammapada 41

Before long, alas! this body will lie on the earth, despised, without understanding, like a useless log.

ChristianityJames 4:14

Whereas 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.

IslamQuran 3:185

Every 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.

JainismUttaradhyayana 10.1-2

As 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!