Saṃyukta Āgama, Sutta 298 (Part 3)

(3) Original Text: Conditioned by existence is birth. What is birth? When various beings of various bodily forms come into existence, transcending the union of causes, they obtain the aggregates, obtain the elements, obtain the sense bases, and obtain the life faculty. This is called birth. Conditioned by birth are aging and death. What is aging? Graying hair, balding head, slackened skin with wrinkles, faculties fully matured and no longer renewing, weakened limbs, hunched back, hanging heads and groaning, shortness of breath where inhalation barely precedes exhalation, walking supported by a staff, body darkening, limbs mottled and impure, senses dimmed and dulled, movements arduous and feeble—these phenomena are called aging. What is death? When various beings of various kinds pass away, the body perishes and migrates, lifespan exhausted, the fire of life departs, vitality ceases, and the time comes to relinquish the aggregates. This is called death. This death together with the aforementioned aging is called aging-and-death. This is the exposition of the meaning of dependent origination. After the Buddha spoke this sutra, the bhikkhus, having heard the Buddha’s teaching, rejoiced and undertook it respectfully.

Explanation: Conditioned by existence is birth. What is birth? Birth refers to the emergence of various beings with diverse bodily forms; after birth, they possess the five aggregates, the eighteen elements, the six sense bases, and the life faculty—this is called birth. Conditioned by birth are aging and death. What is aging? If one’s hair turns white, the scalp becomes bare, the skin slackens and wrinkles appear, the five faculties become fully mature and cease renewing, the limbs weaken, the back becomes hunched, one hangs their head and groans incessantly, suffers shortness of breath where inhalation barely precedes exhalation, needs a staff to walk, the body darkens, becomes mottled and impure, senses grow dim and dull, and movements become difficult and feeble—these phenomena constitute aging. What is death? When various beings of various kinds vanish, the body perishes and life ends, migrating to other kinds of beings; when lifespan is exhausted, the fire of life extinguishes, vitality ceases, and it is time to relinquish the five aggregates—this is death. Death together with aging is called aging-and-death. This is the exposition of the meaning of dependent origination.