Dhammapada on Impermanence

A creature's pleasures are extravagant and luxurious; sunk in lust and looking for pleasure, men undergo (again and again) birth and decay.

Make thyself an island, work hard, be wise! When thy impurities are blown away, and thou art free from guilt, thou wilt not enter again into birth and decay.

Give up what is before, give up what is behind, give up what is in the middle, when thou goest to the other shore of existence; if thy mind is altogether free, thou wilt not again enter into birth and decay.

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.

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

He whose appetites are stilled, who is not absorbed in enjoyment, who has perceived void and unconditioned freedom (Nirvana), his path is difficult to understand, like that of birds in the air.

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

This world is dark, few only can see here; a few only go to heaven, like birds escaped from the net.

There never was, there never will be, nor is there now, a man who is always blamed, or a man who is always praised.

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.

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

`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.

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

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

As a grass-blade, if badly grasped, cuts the arm, badly-practised asceticism leads to hell.

Silently shall I endure abuse as the elephant in battle endures the arrow sent from the bow: for the world is ill-natured.

Him I call indeed a Brahmana who in this world, leaving all desires, travels about without a home, and in whom all concupiscence is extinct.