"Of concern to us is the question of mortality and we must address it as:
At some time we build a household,
at some time we start a family,
at some time (often) the brothers divide (the inheritance),
at some time feuds arise in the land.
At some time the Earth will move (and) bring disaster.
The mayfly floating on the river,
its countenance gazing on the face of the sun,
then all of a sudden nothing is there!" from an ancient Sumerian text.
Of equal concern to us is the question of peace and happiness and we must address it as:
At some time we know the joy of being alive.
At some time we come to know suffering.
At some time we may know life,
and free ourselves from suffering.
Such is our existence that we must organise ourselves to:
Meet the needs of the body.
Meet the needs of the mind.
Continually adapt so that all may endure,
that all may know peace of mind and live in joy.
There is no canonical reading of this saga which has influenced world literature for millennia. "It's up to the reader to understand and to date, Dharma is a code to meet these requirements."
