Two Periods in Human Life: Minor Periods and Major Periods
In every person’s life, there are two periods we all must face:
- Minor Period (Tiểu Hạn): Times of illness or physical suffering.
- Major Period (Đại Hạn): The final moment of life, when the body perishes and life ends.
For example, if we fall ill today, we might say:
“Today, I’m going through a minor period.”
But when someone reaches their last breath, that is the major period – something no one can escape.
A Lesson from Zhuge Liang – Attempting to Prolong Life
Zhuge Liang, also known as Kongming, was a brilliant military strategist and a master of divination.
- He was able to calculate the span of his own life.
- When he foresaw his major period approaching, he devised a method to extend his lifespan:
He lit a lamp and instructed everyone to guard it carefully, ensuring the wind wouldn’t blow it out.
According to him, as long as the lamp remained lit, his life would continue; if the lamp went out, he would die.
Yet, a sudden strong gust of wind slipped through the door, extinguishing the lamp, and he passed away immediately afterward.
Before departing, he could only exclaim:
“The major period has arrived!” (Đại hạn lai thời!)
The Lesson of Impermanence – No One Can Escape the Major Period
Zhuge Liang’s story offers a profound lesson about impermanence:
- Even with extraordinary wisdom, one cannot prolong life indefinitely.
- No matter how clever the plan, no one can defy the laws of nature.
- Minor periods may be overcome, but when the major period arrives, no one can avoid it.
The lamp Zhuge Liang lit is like human life itself:
- While it burns brightly, we remain alive.
- But with just a gust of impermanent wind, the lamp can go out at any moment.
Final thought
- Minor periods (illnesses) can be overcome, but the major period (death) is inevitable.
- No one can extend their life forever, not even the wisest among us.
- Understanding impermanence teaches us to cherish every moment we have, to live more meaningfully, and to do more good deeds.
Because the lamp of life could go out at any time, we should live in a way that makes each day meaningful, so that when the major period arrives, we can depart peacefully, without regrets.
This article is compiled based on a sermon by Venerable Thích Pháp Hoà
