Everyone has the same 24 hours in a day. Each of us choose to spend the 24 hours differently. Why? Because each person's value is different. What you value as important will be very different from the next person. Whatever you value that's where you put your time into it.
That's not all. Then comes the set of conditions in which we want to put time into it. I call it finding the perfect cup.
Some I have met, told me they will be able to do dharma only when they have more time when they retire, until then they choose to put cultivation aside. Some told me when their children grows up, then they will have the time to cultivate. There are also some that told me when they have enough money, then they will have time to cultivate. And the reasons are as much as the individuals, such as having the perfect space for altar, less distraction in work then only they can focus, when they have not so busy schedule then they will do it.
This is all about finding the PERFECT cup for cultivation. Then for some TIME is not one of the conditions for the cup, the type of temple, the type of lineage, they type of people, they type of activities and so on.
When a person highlight all those factors, it is about finding the PERFECT cup. However the biggest important factor is the water that will be in the cup. Because when you are thirsty or almost dehydrated, you don't go looking for the perfect cup, you just need a container. The liquid or water is the important factor for your survival spiritually. A lot of people miss the water for the cup.
A perfect teacher, a perfect lineage, a perfect temple, a perfect deity, having ample time, the right group of practitioners and more. All these are still just the cup, you need to drink the liquid, survive spiritually then worry about the design and type of cup.
The saddest part are too many people die of dehydration looking for the cup while the water was in front of them all along. In samsara, time moves without our realization, some of us can remember our childhood so vividly as if it was yesterday, while a look in the mirror or at our children, instantly it will dawn on us that so much of our life have pass by. Illusions are moving on and very soon a different dream will take over. Have you drank? Or are you still looking for the perfect cup?
