In brief, the time for accomplishing the goals of beings is only this time when we have gained a special human body. We mostly remain in lower rebirths, and even if we make it to fortunate rebirths just once, they are predominantly places lacking freedom, so that we do not find an opportunity to accomplish the Dharma. If we gain a basis suited to accomplishing the Dharma and still do not accomplish it properly, it is because of this thought of “I am not going to die yet”. Therefore this mind that holds to the position of not dying is the door to all manner of degeneration whereas mindfulness of death is the door to all excellence. From: The Middle-Length Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, by Tsongkhapa. Translated by Philip Quarcoo and published by Wisdom Publications.
In brief, the time for accomplishing the goals of beings is only this time when we have gained a special human body. We mostly remain in lower rebirths, and even if we make it to fortunate rebirths just once, they are predominantly places lacking freedom, so that we do not find an opportunity to accomplish the Dharma. If we gain a basis suited to accomplishing the Dharma and still do not accomplish it properly, it is because of this thought of “I am not going to die yet”. Therefore this mind that holds to the position of not dying is the door to all manner of degeneration whereas mindfulness of death is the door to all excellence.
From: The Middle-Length Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, by Tsongkhapa. Translated by Philip Quarcoo and published by Wisdom Publications.