Volume 27. May 8, 2022
Mae West (1893-1980) was a stage and screen actress known for her breezy sexual independence and bawdy double entendres.
America’s first sex symbol once said in her mumbling, husky voice, “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is all you need.”
Surprisingly, the Buddha would agree.
Sex, life and death bring up a recent development in our land.
On May 3, 2022, the US Supreme Court leaked a draft opinion signaling the repeal of Roe v Wade. After 48 years, women may lose their right to a safe, legal abortion.
Setting aside the politics, the morality and the philosophical question (when does life begin?), now is a good time to examine the Buddhist perspective on life.
For a Buddhist, human life is precious.
The chance to be born a human being is an opportunity too valuable to waste.
In Buddhist understanding, there are six states of existence: gods, anti-gods, humans, restless ghosts, demons and animals.
Only human beings can gain enlightenment during their lifetime.
Despite a pain-free life of bliss, even the blessed gods can’t do it.
Thus, for a Buddhist, human life is too precious to be squandered.
It’s a rare opportunity for ultimate spiritual progress.
The Buddha teaches the way to enlightenment.
Follow the path of morality, meditation and wisdom.
Consider this story of Zen wisdom.
Once upon a time, there lived a Zen master. Every evening at low tide, he would walk along the seashore and fling back into the water any starfish that happened to wash up on the shore.
One evening, a novice approached and said, “What are you doing?”
The master replied, “Tossing starfish back into the sea.”
“Master, why are you doing that?”
“Well, if I don’t throw them back, they will die on the shore for lack of oxygen.”
The novice looked down the beach. His eyes goggled. There were hundreds of thousands of starfish littered across the sand.
He said, “Master, there must be a million starfish on this beach. You can’t get to them all. How can you possibly make a difference?”
The Master bent down, picked up a starfish and tossed it back into the sea.
Then he said, “Well, made a difference to that one.”
It doesn’t matter if you’re Mae West, a Zen master or a starfish. Don’t waste this precious opportunity called Life.
To the world you may be one person.
But to one person you may be the whole world.
The Buddha Times 