Five Dharmas Increasing Life Span

Once, World"s Honored One stayed at Vesani in Mahavana. In the afternoon, He stood up from meditation and visited a sick bhikshu, and then he said to other Bhikshus:

Bhikshu! There are five dharmas increasing life span. What are they? Working appropriately, doing appropriate things moderately, eating digested food, traveling at the right time and living with high conduct (The Tripitaka, Anguttara Nikaya II, Chapter 5, Article of Disease, Part of Life Expectancy, published by Vietnam Institute of Religious Studies, 1996, page 543)

COMMENT:

Living healthily, eating abstemiously, working moderately and keeping the mind peacefully are the common trends of human beings in modern life to have a long and healthy life. Therefore, full comfortable life along with busy industrial life and various entertainment of the modern life are not enough for human beings' health, but sometimes it has a contrary effect. 

Fatal diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, psychological disorder which are often called "disease of the rich" are very popular. One of the reasons contributing to the increase of traffic accidents is eating intemperately, leading to loss of control. The pandemic of the century, AIDS, a horror to all people comes from self-indulgence, indiscriminate relations.

To increase life expectancy, according to the World's Honored One’s wisdom, people should build and comply with conditions in life. They are having a suitable and honest job, working moderately with good break, eating abstemiously and nutritionally, traveling in good weather conditions, and maintaining good virtues and characteristics, not falling into dissolute, depraved excessive indulgence.

Although the five above-mentioned dharmas have been spread since the ancient times, they are a basic standards to bring health, long life expectancy to people in the civilized and modern life. Building a healthy life style and relief, peaceful body and mind is one of the most effective therapies for keeping healthy. 

Long and healthy life is a blessing, a dream of all people. Do not be regret when it is not too late; do not waste health and life since it cannot be taken back once losing. Live and practice the Buddha's teachings to have a happy, healthy and long life.

  Quang Tanh  

Translated into English by Huynh Thi Thao – Emily