‘Att they who thoughtless are, nor heed, What time Death’s messengers appear, Must long the pangs of suffering feel In some base body habiting.
But all those good and holy men,
What time they see Death’s messengers, Behave not thoughtless, but give heed To what the Noble Doctrine says;
And in attachment frighted see
Of birth and death the fertile source, And from attachment free themselves,
Thus birth and death extinguishing. Secure and happy ones are they, Released from all this fleeting show ; Exempted from all sin and fear,
All misery have they overcome.’
Anguttara-Nikaya, iii. 355 (Warren’s Translation).