You Are a Miracle – The Odds of Human Birth
The Preciousness of Human Life
- As a human being, we have the greatest potential of all creatures on earth to realize the Dharma and
- to realize the true nature of reality and
- to experience an ineffable, unconditional peace
- and to discover a way of living that is in harmony with the profound truths of life
According to the Buddha, our human birth is very rare. There is a classic story about this rarity in the Pali Canon, the ancient text recording the teachings of the Buddha.
The Buddha was speaking to a group of monks. He said, “Monks, suppose that this great earth were totally covered with water and a man were to toss a yoke with a single hole into the water. A wind from the West would push it East, a wind from the East would push it West, a wind from the North would push it South; a wind from the South would push it North. And suppose a blind sea turtle were there. It would come to the surface only once every 100 years. Now what do you suppose the chances would be that a blind turtle, coming once to the surface every 100 years, would stick his neck into the yoke with a single hole?”
And the monks answered, “It would be very unusual, Sir, that a blind turtle coming to the surface once every hundred years would stick his neck into the yoke.”
And the Buddha replied, “And just so, it is very, very rare that one attains the human state (birth).”
What are the Odds of Your Birth?
You really are a miracle!