Milestones of Life

In each life, there are various milestones. There are, in general, four common milestones. They are the milestones of birth (jāti), aging (jarā), sickness (byādhi), and death (maraṇa). No one can avoid passing each of these milestones. They are markers on the path of the carriage of the five aggregates (khandhā), and since this carriage only moves forward, never backward, it is the natural law (dhammaniyāma) that every possessor of aggregates must inevitably cross these four milestones. The beginning of life is called birth (jāti). It is the start of the present life. Birth itself is the period of conception (paṭisandhi) in the mother's womb, abiding there with mental and physical suffering. Birth is solely the truth of suffering (dukkha saccā). Therefore, it is not wrong to say life begins with suffering. However, ignorance (avijjā) veils and covers all the suffering and misery of dwelling in the womb, so we cannot know or see it. Not knowing, even though it is said "birt...