Having realized how astronomically rare it is to be born as a human being (the Simile of the Blind Turtle), a second vital realization must follow: human life is not only rare, but also exceedingly short, brief, and fleeting.
Many people live under the illusion that they have endless time ahead of them. We postpone practicing virtue, making peace, and cultivating merit, assuming tomorrow is guaranteed. Yet in the Pali Canon—specifically in the Araka Sutta (Anguttara Nikaya 7.74)—the Buddha provides seven vivid, unforgettable similes to illustrate just how rapidly life slips away.
The 7 Similes of the Brevity of Life (Anguttara Nikaya 7.74)
In this discourse, the Buddha explains that human life is short, limited, and bound to pass quickly. He offered seven analogies from nature:
1. A Dewdrop on a Blade of Grass (Tassabindu)
Imagine a tiny drop of morning dew resting on the tip of a blade of grass. As soon as the sun rises over the horizon, the warmth evaporates the dewdrop in a flash. The Buddha taught: “Just so is human life like a dewdrop—short, limited, passing quickly. It has much suffering, much distress.”
2. A Bubble of Foam on Water (Udakabubbuḷa)
When heavy rain falls upon a lake, large foam bubbles form on the surface. A single touch of wind or water pops the bubble instantly. Human life is just as fragile and temporary as a floating water bubble.
3. A Line Drawn on Water (Udake Lekha)
If you take a stick and draw a line on the surface of a flowing river—or across dry sand on a windy beach—the line disappears the moment it is drawn. It leaves no permanent trace. Such is the impermanence of our mortal years.
4. A Mountain River Rushing Downhill (Muddhaniyā Nadī)
A swift river cascading down a steep mountain slope does not stop for a single second. It surges forward relentlessly toward the ocean. Similarly, from the moment of conception, human life rushes toward death without stopping for even a breath.
5. A Lump of Spit (Kheḷapiṇḍa)
When a person spits out a lump of saliva from their mouth, they do so effortlessly and without attachment. Lifespan passes just as effortlessly into non-existence.
6. A Piece of Meat in a Hot Pan (Maṁsapeśī)
If a thin slice of meat is dropped into a red-hot iron frying pan, it sizzles and burns away in seconds. It cannot endure the heat. Likewise, human vitality burns away rapidly under the heat of time and decay.
7. Cattle Led to the Slaughterhouse (Gāvī Vajjhā)
Imagine a herd of cattle being driven toward a slaughterhouse. With every single step they take, they are closer to the end of their lives. So it is with human beings: with every breath, every heartbeat, and every tick of the clock, we move closer to our final moment.
The Spiritual Urgency: Cultivating Heedfulness (Appamada)
The Buddha did not share these similes to cause despair or nihilism. Rather, he shared them to awaken us to spiritual urgency (Samvega) and heedfulness (Appamada).
“Heedfulness is the path to the Deathless; heedlessness is the path to death. The heedful do not die; the heedless are as if already dead.”
— Dhammapada, Verse 21
Because life is both astronomically rare (the Blind Turtle) and extraordinarily brief (the Dewdrop), we must not waste a single day in hatred, anger, or foolish pursuits. Every day is a priceless canvas upon which we can carve lasting spiritual merit (Barami).
3 Practical Ways to Honor Your Short Life Today
- Practice Daily Generosity (Dana): Give freely of your time, resources, and forgiveness. What you give away is what truly accompanies your spirit beyond death.
- Guard Your Conduct (Sila): Refrain from killing, stealing, misconduct, lying, and intoxicants. Ethical purity acts as a protective shield for consciousness.
- Train the Mind in Stillness (Bhavana): Meditate daily at the center of the body. Stillness brings clarity, peace, and ultimate freedom from fear.
🙏 Do not wait for tomorrow. The dewdrop is already evaporating in the morning sun. Make today count by being a beacon of peace, kindness, and spiritual wisdom.