Three Heavenly Messengers
These are not celestial beings but symbolic encounters that awaken spiritual insight. These messengers are:
Old Age: The sight of an elderly person reminds us of the inevitability of aging. It confronts us with the reality that youth and vitality are fleeting.
Sickness: Witnessing illness reveals the vulnerability of the human body. It teaches that health is impermanent and suffering is part of life.
Death: Seeing a corpse forces recognition of mortality. It underscores the truth that death comes to all, regardless of status or strength.
The Buddha called these “heavenly” messengers not because they bring comfort, but because they deliver profound truths that can awaken us to the path to freedom from suffering.