With every breath we take, 
we are one breath 
closer to the Pure Land.

Incredible! Our being born in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Joy is not a matter of “if”. It’s a question of “when.” Having stepped onto the Pure Land path, we can dawdle as we become distracted by all the phenomena we encounter. And by the way, since we’re still here in samsara, this is clearly what we’ve done for far too long. Or, we can leap ahead.

Since our goal has been determined—and our belief, vow, and practice assure us of reaching it—the only unknown is how long we will take to get there. It’s a matter of choice. We make the wrong choice every time we become distracted by daily events, every time we opt for short-lived enjoyment, or fall prey to old habits. Distracted every time we focus on where we’ve been instead of what lies ahead, of making that leap forward.

When in despair of reaching that goal, remember: with every breath, we’re closer to the Pure Land.