In the Blink of an Eye: Reflections on Time and Practice

Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

In the blink of an eye, seconds and minutes slip away. Time flows onward, waiting for no one. We often feel that time is always rushing, and we marvel at how each day passes as swiftly as a weaver's shuttle. In the blink of an eye, the sun rises, and before we know it, the sun has set again.

The Swift Passage of Time

Between the rising and the setting of the sun, what have you done to truly benefit other beings? Between the setting and the rising of the sun, have you become so preoccupied with your own private concerns that you have forgotten the needs of others? When you feel drowsy or lost in the vastness of space, it is because you are still burdened by thoughts and attachments. You are clinging to your physical body, your sensory perceptions, and your emotional feelings. By holding onto these so tightly, you bring suffering upon your body and heart, which in turn leaves your spirit feeling restless and unsettled.

The Heavy Burden of Attachment

There are things you have not yet let go of, which continue to weigh heavily upon your heart. Because you are unwilling to face certain people or events, you find it difficult to take charge of your own life, and your karma manifests in ways that cause you further distress. As the years pass by in this hurried manner, one year after another slips away. Think back to the time when you first made your vow and set your intentions. Where are those vows now? Are you still as committed as you were in the beginning?

Reflecting on Your Daily Intentions

I urge all of you to wake up quickly and stop sinking into complacency. In this fleeting life, you must engage in diligent practice. Do not wait until it is too late to lament that you did not practise Cherishing Time. Everything changes in the blink of an eye; the people, the circumstances, and the scenery are no longer as they once were. You must realise that impermanence is always present. Only when your heart is settled and your meditative concentration is firm can you respond appropriately to the myriad changes of the world.

Evaluating Your Spiritual Journey

In your practice and your cultivating the mind, have you made any real progress? In this short life, is your body at peace? Is your spirit still secure, and has the spiritual quality of your spirit improved? If you can answer these questions with a clear and honest 'yes,' then you have made progress and must continue on this path. However, if your answer is 'no,' it means you have regressed. Do not continue in this way. You must change your ways and strive for improvement so that you do not waste your time here at Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Namo Amituofo.