Precious human life (part 13)
Such a precious human life can easily be lost
If this precious human life, with all its various merits, could remain in the world for eternity, then it would not be necessary to utilise it urgently. On the contrary, the truth is that human life is like a candle in the wind. It may be blown out at anytime. We are threatened by all kinds of natural disasters and human errors, such as fire, floods, poison, traffic accidents, food poisoning, illness, earthquakes, wars, and so on. We may die at any moment. Hence, it is stated in the sutras, “Life occurs in between our in and out breaths. Human life is as fragile as a bubble.”
Humans who have not committed any harmful deeds are virtually non-existent, hence most humans will descend to the three lower realms. Furthermore, the Buddha Dharma currently exists in the darkness of the age of the five degenerations. If the Buddha Dharma disappears, we would not even have the opportunity to hear the name of the Three Jewels. Because we have not encountered the Buddha Dharma in our past life, or if we only practiced half-heartedly in this life, we are still revolving in the suffering of samsara. If we make the same mistake, we will have no confidence when we die and we will continue to wander in the cyclic existence of samsara.
Contemplate on all the negative deeds we have committed since beginningless time until now and the karma caused as a result of these wrongdoings. Contemplate on the sufferings of the three lower realms. If I do not achieve enlightenment in this life, I will have the same fate as them. It is as if we were standing at the edge of a cliff, about to fall into a deep void full of fire. If we lose this precious human life, another opportunity to become a human being and to encounter the Buddha Dharma will be very slim.
Utilising this precious human life beneficially
Once we have realized the preciousness of human life, we should contemplate on how best to utilise this life, so that it has meaning and value.
The human realm is the best place to study and practice the Buddha Dharma, because humans have wisdom, have the ability to think and to contemplate. By utilising this precious human life to practice the Buddha Dharma, we can accumulate the merit for entry into the three higher realms in this life and the next. We can be reborn in the pure land and no longer suffer in samsara. The Great Perfection practitioners with a higher level of ability and diligent practice may obtain Buddhahood in this life. They will be able to lead countless sentient beings to escape the suffering of samsara. Therefore, as the Buddha said, the precious human life is like a ship, which can carry us cross the ocean of samsara. It is like a precious jewel.
As a result of countless merit accumulated in past lives, we have obtained this rare human life. At this moment, we have all the favourable conditions to practice the Buddha Dharma. We have the freedom to practice and have encountered the precious Dharma. We have encountered great masters, such as HH Lama Rinpoche, who has already taught us the precious Dharma of liberation. Just like climbing a mountain, we have ascended beyond the half-way point and, if we utilise this life to study and practice diligently, we can reach the mountain peak or to a place where we at least we will not fall back down again. However, we may waste this wonderful opportunity in laziness, like someone who stares at a plate of good food, but does not eat and starves to death. If we lose this precious human life, not only is it very difficult to obtain, it is also difficult to once again be on the path of liberation.
Contemplate on the huge number of beings in the lower realms and the very limited number of humans. Contemplate on the fragility of this rare human life and the horrifying possibility of descending to the lower realms. Therefore, safeguard this precious human life, foster the opportunity of attaining liberation, appreciate every second we have with our Guru, cherish all the Buddha Dharma that leads us to liberation, like a starving person having their first meal after 100 days. Adhere to the Guru, practice diligently, day and night, work conscientiously to seek liberation and obtain Buddhahood. Do not waste any time. Through such practice, compassion will naturally arise for those people who have obtained and wasted this precious human life.
It is very difficult to acquire this precious human life within the Six Realms and it is even more difficult to encounter the Buddha Dharma. Since you have such a rare opportunity in obtaining this wonderful human life, practice diligently and obtain the essence of the teachings.