一失人身，万劫不复——所以没有理由不未雨绸缪

As stated in the sutras，“Existence in the human realm is rare，and all is impermanent.” Most of you here are already in your 30s and 40s. The remaining days, a few more decades at the most, are really not that long and will soon pass by before you know it. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee the opportunity to practice will present itself again in the next life if you fail to seize it this time. So the point is to lay the necessary foundation now as the stepping-stones leading to a better start for the next life.

佛经言：“人身难得、寿命无常”。对跨入三、四十岁行列的人来说，以后的时间也不会很长，人生几十年转瞬即逝，如果这一世没有抓住机会修行，下一世就更难把握了。所以，必须要打下一定的基础，为下一世创造一个良好的开端。

The minimum goal we should set for ourselves of this life is to enter the bodhisattva’s path of accumulation, which is the first step, a must, to start the journey of dharma practice. What then is the primary factor leading to the path of accumulation? It is genuine bodhicitta. Surely you all know the definition of bodhicitta. Many may even be able to expound methodically its actual practice. However，it would be hard to say how many of you can actually arouse genuine bodhicitta.

对这一世的最低要求，是要进入大乘菩萨的资粮道，这是向修行旅途启程所必须迈出的第一步。步入大乘资粮道的首要条件是什么呢？就是要有不造作的菩提心。提起菩提心，想必诸位都知道其含义，也许很多人还能将菩提心的具体修法说得有条有理，但到底有多少人能真正做到，这就难打包票了。

We must realize that if we fail to take the first step in this life, we may not have another chance, as being reborn in the human realm is not guaranteed and the opportunity to continue our spiritual practice in the next life even less secured. So, we must begin now. Even if we do not advance very far with this first step, a very good foundation should have been laid for the next life. And the inherent blessing of bodhicitta will ensure the necessary conditions for practice to be continued then. Thus, no matter where and what the next life will take us, we will undoubtedly be reborn with unique qualities, that is, with compassion and bodhicitta. This first step is, therefore, very crucial.

我们必须清醒地认识到，如果今生没有走出第一步，下一世想再获得人身，都难上其难，继续修行的机会就更是微乎其微。所以，我们一定要把握住当下，如果今生能迈出这一步，即使修行的境界不是很高，也会为来世打下良好的基础。菩提心本身所具有的加持力，就能让我们拥有继续修行的机缘。这样，无论下一世投生到何等环境、何等人群当中，天生就会具有与众不同的个性，成为具足慈悲菩提心的人，这一点是毫无疑问的。所以，第一步非常重要。