Do Not Waste It Away

Ultimately, there is no beginning or end to our existence, but eventually this life on the earth will come to end. It can never be recreated. Therefore, we could reflect on the many precious days and months that we have been lost in our habits.

Sojong Reminder 15/2

Dear Dharma friends,

This unbelievably precious human incarnation is a manifestation of countless causes and conditions. Now and then, we might like to remind ourselves to cherish it and to contemplate how best to utilize this opportunity. If we’re not living life to its fullest, it becomes just another link in the chain of unnecessary suffering. Reflecting on such a topic can be powerful. It can help us to see many of our old habits. We may then feel an urgency to change the way we live internally, rather than externally.

Ultimately, there is no beginning or end to our existence, but eventually this life on the earth will come to end. It can never be recreated. Therefore, we could reflect on the many precious days and months that we have been lost in our habits. These are days and months that we could have lived with more joy and love. Such regrets can be helpful motivation to take radical action. We could really immerse ourselves in these practices that help us actualize our life’s potential. The sacred traditions have often invited us to feel this regret - not to let it weigh us down, but rather inspire us. It is not same as the usual regret that can just be another game of ego.

One way to cultivate insight is in the form of an inner dialogue. We could converse with ourselves, telling ourselves how precious and short this life is and how countless moments are lost while we live unconsciously. We could remind ourselves that the time to wake up is now. We can live more fully by living in a higher state of consciousness in this very moment. This kind of inner dialogue has been practiced by meditators through the eons. Some have even recorded this dialogue in the form of verses for us to imprint on our minds.

During this Sojong, let me invite all of you to take some time to have such an inner dialogue. Perhaps you will emerge with a renewed commitment to live each day with awareness.

With palms joined, Anam Thubten