Life Is Racing By

Life is racing by and so fast that we must give life our close attention. If we cannot keep up with life, we will be lost. And when we are lost, we will be distracted and easily deluded. We will have no idea what we are doing in the here and now. So when we notice that life is too fast, we should slow it down in order to live it carefully and mindfully or slowly and patiently. In that way we will not be lost.

As life is fast, like a race, we must be well prepared for it. Otherwise we will lose the race. Being well prepared means keeping in our minds loving kindness, compassion, generosity, responsibility, truthfulness carefulness, mindfulness and patience. With these we can survive and win the race. To understand this better, here is a story which helps explain it further. Here is the story:


Every morning in Africa, a gazelle awakens. He has only one thought on his mind:
To be able to run faster than the fastest lion, if he cannot, then he will be eaten.

Every morning in Africa a lion awakens. He has only one thought on his mind:
To be able to run faster than the slowest gazelle, if he cannot, he will die of hunger.

You see that this world is a big racing track throughout our lives. Whether you choose to be a gazelle or a lion is of no consequence. It is enough to know that with the rising of the sun, you must prepare for the race. And you must run faster than you did yesterday or you will die. In the competition there are many opponents such as illness, aging, desire, ignorance, attachment or clinging etc. who try to bring you down.

This is the race of life which you must understand. If you don’t understand this, you are in trouble. Every morning you must prepare well for this race, so you have a chance to survive or to win the race of life.

Good luck