Precious Human Birth

This free and favorable life, very difficult to obtain,

Brings the accomplishment of the purpose of human existence.

If the benefits are not achieved now, How will such an opportunity arise later?

Contemplate on the importance of having a precious human birth with all the freedoms and conditions necessary for practice:

“At this time I have gained this leisure free from the eight kinds of bondage: from 

1) hell, 

2) hungry ghost and 

3) animal realms; from 

4) the realms of the long-lived gods, 

5) barbarians, and 

6) perverse philosophers; 

7) from being a fool, 

8) from a place in which no Buddha has appeared.

As well, I have the advantages of: 

1) To have been born a human being 

2) complete with sensory faculties, 

3) in a central land congenial to Dharma; 

4) not to have reverted to extreme wrong deeds and 

5) to have faith in the Buddhist teachings - these comprise the five personal endowments.

1) When a Buddha has appeared, 

2) has expounded the truth of Dharma; 

3) when the teachings survive and 

4) are being followed; and 

5) when one has been accepted by a spiritual friend -- these are the five circumstantial endowments.

1) To be entrapped by harmful influences or 

2) polluted by the five poisons, 

3) to be struck by the lightning of evil karma or 

4) to be distracted by laziness; 

5) to be enslaved by others, 

6) to practice the dharma as a defece from fear or

 7) with pretension, or 

8) to be thick- headed and the like - these are the eight unfree states caused by temporal events. 

To lack 1) remorse and 

2) the jewel of faith; 

3) to be bound by the lasso of desire and greed or 

4) to behave crudely; 

5) not to refrain from unskillful and evil actions, or 

6) to live by dishonest means; 

7) to undermine one’s vows and 

8) rend precepts asunder – these are the eight unfree states caused by mental aberration.”

Meditation:

How rare it is to find such a rebirth! How uncertain it is that we will find it again, since the mind can easily lead us into a non-human realm or a human birth without all the freedoms and advantages. Our virtues and aspirations in past lives must have been very great for us to have created the present good conditions. Reflect, then rest the mind. Remember with compassion all those who do not have the freedoms and advantages we now have – animals, ghosts, those suffering so much, those who cannot generate enough merit to create conditions for practice and those who waste their precious human birth through negative actions. Reflect, then rest the mind.

When thoughts arise, pray -- may I not waste this precious human birth, but instead use it well to create merit and gain recognition of the true nature of mind. May all beings in all realms find human rebirth, may they find spiritual conditions, and use them to fulfill their highest aspirations. May I attain the power to help all beings. Rest.