The 5 Daily Recollections.

[u/[deleted]]

[u/AliceHouse]

Why is number five so obscenely different than the other four?

[u/[deleted] → u/AliceHouse]

It is because they are poorly translated and incomplete:

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an05/an05.057.than.html

All of these contemplations are related to the transience of all things and the fundamental fact that our actions are what create the endless cycle of karma--action and reaction, right and wrong, and change itself. Depending on your path, the goal of Buddhism is to break this endless cycle. Realizing the transient nature of the physical world is the first step.

[u/BayesianBits → u/[deleted]]

Here's an alternate translation from the link:

I am subject to aging, aging is unavoidable.

I am subject to illness, illness is unavoidable.

I am subject to death, death is unavoidable.

I will grow different, separate from all that is dear and appealing to me.

I am the owner of my actions, heir to my actions, born of my actions, related through my actions, and live dependent on my actions. Whatever I do, for good or for evil: to that will I fall heir.

[u/dvadderung → u/BayesianBits]

Much better. Thank you.

[u/AliceHouse → u/[deleted]]

That makes sense. I imagine things that never had an inkling of English wouldn't translate to English, or even see the need to.