Golden Ring

There is a beautiful golden ring floating upon the surface of the great big ocean.

And deep inside the vast ocean, an ancient female water turtle is doing the very long journey up to the surface of the water to get a breath of air, which she does every one thousand year.

This is her time now, she is on her way, pushing her way from the depth of darkness towards the light.

If, by chance or fate, she can, when coming up to the surface gasping for air, manage to get her head right through the floating golden ring, then she is given a human life.

This is how rare human life is. This is how precious it is.

(A Buddhist tale)