reflect often on the following: I am subject to aging, have not gone beyond aging.... I am subject to illness, have not gone beyond illness.... I am subject to death, have not gone beyond death.... In the Pali Canon, aging and death affect all beings, including gods, humans, animals and those born in a hell realm. Only beings who achieve enlightenment (bodhi) in this lifetime escape rebirth in this cycle of birth-and-death (sasāra). As what the Buddha instructed King Pasenadi of Kosala about aging and death in the Pabbatopama Sutta (SN 3.25): Like massive boulders, mountains pressing against the sky, moving in from all sides, crushing the four directions, so aging and death come rolling over living beings: noble warriors, brahmins, merchants, workers, outcastes, & scavengers. They spare nothing. They trample everything. So a wise person seeing his own good, steadfast, secures confidence in the Buddha, Dhamma, & Sangha. One who practices the Dhamma in thought, word, & deed, receives praise here on earth and after death rejoices in heaven. The Dhammapada has one chapter known as "Jaravagga", that consisted of eleven verses about old age, (from verse 146 to 156). See also Pāli Canon Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta Upajjhatthana Sutta Four Noble Truths Dukkha Maranasati Paticca-samuppada Parinibbana Patikulamanasikara Rebirth (Buddhism) Samsara Twelve Nidanas Notes References Web references Sources Bodhi, Bhikkhu (1980). Transcendental Dependent Arising: A Translation and Exposition of the Upanisa Sutta (Wheel Nos. 277-278). Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society. Retrieved 18 Nov 2008 from "Access to Insight" (1995) at Transcendental Dependent Arising: A Translation and Exposition of the Upanisa Sutta. Piyadassi Thera (trans.) (1999). Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta: Setting in Motion the Wheel of Truth (SN 56.11). Retrieved 2007-06-13 from "Access to Insight" at Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta: Setting in Motion the Wheel of Truth. Thanissaro Bhikkhu (trans.) (1997b). Upajjhatthana Sutta: Subjects for Contemplation (AN 5.57). Retrieved 18 Nov 2008 from "Access to Insight" at Upajjhatthana Sutta: Subjects for Contemplation. Thanissaro Bhikkhu (trans.) (1997). Pabbatopama Sutta: The Simile of the Mountains (SN 3.25). Retrieved 7 Nov 2020 from "Access to Insight" at Pabbatopama Sutta: The Simile of the Mountains Thanissaro Bhikkhu (trans.) (1998b). Sona: Mother of Ten (Thig 5.8). Retrieved 18 Nov 2008 from "Access to Insight" at Sona: Mother of Ten. Thanissaro Bhikkhu (trans.) (2000). Maha-satipatthana Sutta: The Great Frames of Reference (DN 22). Retrieved 2007-06-20 from "Access to Insight" at Maha-satipatthana Sutta: The Great Frames of Reference. Twelve nidānas Sanskrit words and phrases