How Long Is Life?

One day, the Buddha asked his disciples, “How long is life?”

“Maybe fifty years?” a disciple replied.

“Wrong,” said the Buddha.

Another disciple answered, “Months.”

“No,” the Buddha replied.

“Days? Weeks?” another disciple suggested.

“Wrong,” the Buddha said. “Not years, not months, not weeks, not days.”

“Teacher,” they asked, “how long is our life?”

“Our life is only as long as one breath,” the Buddha answered.