There is this really groovy story the Buddha tells somewhere in the Pali canon (the writings of his disciples about his teachings) about a blind turtle. The Buddha was speaking to a group of his monks. He said, “Monks, suppose that this great earth were totally covered with water and a man were to toss a yoke with a single hole into the water. A wind from the West would push it East; a wind from the East would push it West; a wind from the North would push it South; a wind from the South would push it North. And suppose a blind sea turtle were there. It would come to the surface only once every 100 years. Now what do you suppose the chances would be that a blind turtle, coming once to the surface every 100 years, would stick his neck into the yoke with a single hole?” And the monks answered, “It would be very unusual, Sir, that a blind turtle coming to the surface once every hundred years would stick his neck into the yoke.” And the Buddha replied, “And just so, it is very, very rare that one attains the human state.” To me, that is a most beautiful illustration of how rare the chances are, and how [...]