Good evening!
There is a famous scripture titled “Blind Turtle and Floating Log” (盲亀浮木) wherein the Buddha gave a comparison of a person being born as a human being and encountering the awakened way.
To be born as a human being is more rare and difficult than a blind turtle living at the bottom of ocean coming up to the surface once in a hundred years and sticking its head into a hole of a floating log – a chance of one in thirty million.
He said that it is more rare and difficult to encounter the awakened way – one out of a hundred? It is still difficult, even though we can travel farther and quicker and so have more opportunities for contact with it nowadays.
Even when we encounter it, it is still difficult actually to practice it. Even when we start our practice, it is far more rare and hard to continue it. It is more scarce and tough to reach unconditioned peace and unsurpassed awakening.
It is like a drop of water in the great ocean. We are very lucky if we can encounter it, continue practicing it, and keep on witnessing unconditioned peace, unsurpassed awakening, and amrita, ambrosia of immortality.
9/18/12
Photo: Waitomo Cave glowworms’ (Arachnocampa Luminosa, spider-like light-producing larva, unique to New Zealand; adult living no more than a few days without mouth only to exist to reproduce)