Life is short, uncertain, and constantly moving toward death. Buddhism teaches us to recognize this truth and to live meaningfully by cultivating wholesome actions, abandoning evil, and appreciating peace and contentment.
Contents
• The brevity of life
• The certainty of death
• Living meaningfully within a short lifespan
• Abandoning evil and unwholesome actions
• The uncertainty of existence
• Nurturing life with virtues
• Living joyfully and appreciating peace
• Finding contentment with what one has
Introduction
Even if someone harms us—be it a thief, an enemy, or anyone who commits evil—that harm is far less destructive than the damage caused by our own corrupted mind steeped in the ten unwholesome deeds. Human life in this world is extremely short, full of sorrow, and uncertain. Therefore, even for a brief moment, one should live with Dhamma and cultivate wholesome qualities. No one who is born can escape death; it is inevitable.
The Dark Side of Life
Every person must recognize their mortality. Those who ignore the truth of death often fall into delusion, leading to the ten unwholesome actions such as killing, stealing, lying, and greed. This only fills life with more suffering, ending in death. Buddhism teaches that wholesome actions bring good rebirths, while unwholesome deeds lead to suffering and rebirth in the woeful states.
Learn more:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zyhmk2p/revision/1
https://tricycle.org/beginners/buddhism/what-do-buddhists-believe-happens-after-death/
Living Meaningfully in a Short Life
No matter your country, language, or religion, nothing prevents you from living a virtuous, moral, and disciplined life. Instead of wasting life on unwholesome actions, one can cultivate wholesome deeds such as generosity, morality, and meditation. These lead to peace and a calm acceptance of death. Sharing the Dhamma with others brings wisdom not only to oneself but to society as a whole.
The Brevity of Life
Life is uncertain. No one knows when, where, or how death will occur. Defilements like greed, hatred, and jealousy are more destructive than any enemy. Thus, every moment should be used to cultivate virtue. The Araka Sutta in the Anguttara Nikaya illustrates this beautifully through similes—life is like dew on grass, a water bubble, a line drawn on water, or a river flowing swiftly toward the sea.
· Like a dewdrop on a blade of grass, vanishing in the morning sun.
· Like a water bubble on the surface of a pond, bursting instantly.
· Like a line drawn on water, disappearing as soon as it is made.
· Like a swift river, never pausing but flowing toward the sea—just as life flows ceaselessly toward death.
· Like a lump of flesh on a hot iron plate, quickly burning away.
· Like cattle being led to slaughter, each step drawing them closer to death—so too, each step in life brings us nearer to our end.
The Human Time Cycle
Consider a lifespan of one hundred years:
• 300 seasons (100 winters, 100 summers, 100 rainy seasons)
• 1,200 months
• 2,400 half-months (fortnights)
• 36,000 days and nights
• About 84,000 meals consumed
Half of this time is spent in sleep, and much is wasted in trivial pursuits.
When we reflect on how few meals remain in life, we may realize the futility of
killing, lying, stealing, or hating just to survive.
Conclusion
Each day and each moment is precious. Instead of wasting this short life on quarrels or greed, we should cultivate the ten wholesome actions and gather merit. The Dhamma guides us to live wisely, let go of evil, and fill our fleeting lives with goodness, generosity, and peace.
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