What is the pursuit of life?

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Life is a deception: The path to inner awakening and liberation

"A hundred years is 36,000 days, spent either in sorrow or illness." This ancient saying encapsulates the life trajectory of most people: cycling through desires and troubles until the very end, only to realize that everything is ultimately empty. Data shows that over 801,000,000 people worldwide who are nearing the end of their lives openly admit to "regretting not seeing through the true nature of life sooner." Life is like a play, but most people live as puppets in the drama, rather than as observers on the stage.

Human suffering stems from attachment. Many things are products of our own imagination. We all come into this world naked, and we will leave naked as well. Our greatest task is not buying cars or houses, nor is it about living for the moment; these are desires, external possessions.

The only ability that allows us to live a good life is our perspective on the world. The world seems vast, but in reality, most people and most things are irrelevant to you; it's essentially your own world. True freedom comes from ignoring external things and being your own observer.

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Life Time Period Division and Data Analysis

According to global population statistics, the global average life expectancy in 2025 is estimated to be 71.4 years, with 68.9 years for men and 74.0 years for women.

In Asia, Hong Kong has the highest life expectancy in the world at 85.63 years, followed by Japan at approximately 84.63 years, South Korea at 84.43 years, and mainland China at approximately 78 years. These figures show that life expectancy varies depending on lifestyle, medical conditions, and environmental factors. However, regardless of length, life can be divided into several main stages: childhood (0-20 years), youth and adulthood (20-60 years), and old age (60 years and above). This is not an arbitrary division, but rather based on scientific evidence of physiological, social, and psychological development.

Childhood (0-20 years old) is the foundation-laying stage of life, accounting for approximately 231 TP3T of total lifespan. During this period, people are primarily focused on learning and growth, carefree, but also easily influenced by external factors, leading to attachments. According to time allocation statistics, approximately 28.3 years of a lifetime are spent sleeping, accounting for about 331 TP3T. Childhood sleep time is even longer, accounting for 8-10 hours daily, aiding brain development. However, excessive pursuit of material things during this stage can sow the seeds of future suffering.

Youth and adulthood (20-60 years old), accounting for approximately 471 TP3T of total lifespan, is the most active stage of life, primarily dedicated to work, family, and social pursuits. Data shows that about 10.5 years (approximately 121 TP3T) are spent working in a lifetime, with another 2.5 years spent commuting. During this period, people often fall into the trap of buying cars and houses, neglecting inner cultivation. This is due to social pressure and the drive of desire, leading to a state of being either "worried" or "ill."

Old age (60 years and older), accounting for approximately 301 TP3T of total life expectancy, is a stage of reflection and liberation. Many people awaken to this reality at this point, but it is often too late. Global data shows that non-communicable diseases such as heart disease and cancer account for 701 TP3T of premature deaths, mostly due to long-term stress and the accumulation of unhealthy lifestyle habits. In Hong Kong, although life expectancy is long, the stress of chronic diseases in old age is still present, emphasizing the importance of early awareness.

The following description is based on World Bank data (applicable to a life expectancy of 85 years in Hong Kong):

category	percentage	Approximate number of years (based on 1985)
sleep	33%	28.1 years
Work	12%	10.2 years
commuting	3%	2.6 years
entertainment	10%	8.5 years
Other (studies, family, etc.)	42%	35.7 years

This chart shows that most of our time is occupied by "others," and if we don't look inward, we easily waste it on meaningless things. The reason: desires fragment our time. Life is like a short journey; our time is limited, yet it is often consumed by external desires.

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Data on causes of death and the unpredictability of life proves

Life is unpredictable, and data proves this. According to data from the Hong Kong Department of Health in 2024, among the top ten causes of death, malignant tumors (cancer) accounted for 27.11 TP3T, pneumonia 12.51 TP3T, heart disease 12.11 TP3T, cerebrovascular disease 6.51 TP3T, COVID-19 (classified separately from 2024 onwards) approximately 4.21 TP3T, diabetes 4.81 TP3T, chronic lower respiratory diseases 3.91 TP3T, accidents and adverse effects 3.21 TP3T, hypertension-related diseases 2.81 TP3T, and suicide 1.91 TP3T. The causes of these diseases are mostly related to stress and anxiety: poor diet (diabetes), smoking (cancer), and overwork (heart disease).

Birth, aging, sickness, and death are unavoidable due to ignorance and attachment. Resisting impermanence only increases suffering; acceptance brings liberation. In Hong Kong, cancer and pneumonia are the leading causes of death, reflecting the impact of urban stress and air pollution, reminding people not to wait until impermanence arrives to regret their actions.

Top 10 Causes of Death in Hong Kong in 2024

cause of death	percentage
Malignant tumor (cancer)	27.1%
pneumonia	12.5%
heart disease	12.1%
Cerebrovascular diseases	6.5%
COVID-19	4.2%
diabetes	4.8%
Chronic lower respiratory tract disease	3.9%
Unexpected and adverse effects	3.2%
Hypertension-related diseases	2.8%
suicide	1.9%

Chronic diseases account for the majority of cases, due to a focus on desires and neglect of physical and mental balance.

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Happiness Index and the Reasons for Inner Freedom

The 2025 World Happiness Report shows Finland at the top with a score of 7.8, followed by Denmark at 7.6, Iceland at 7.5, Sweden at 7.4, the Netherlands at 7.3, and Taiwan at 6.7, ranking relatively high in Asia. Hong Kong, with a score of 5.3, ranks 88th, its lowest ever, falling between Albania and Armenia. Mainland China ranks 68th, and Singapore 34th. The high scores of the Nordic countries are attributed to social trust, generosity, and goodwill.

Reasons for Hong Kong's low score: High-pressure work, social discontent and economic uncertainty, mutual hatred, escalation of minor issues, selfishness, lack of empathy, mutual fraud, obsession and resistance, all of which have led to a decline in the happiness of Hong Kong people.

In Hong Kong, although life expectancy is long, happiness is low, proving that external prosperity does not equate to true freedom.

Bar chart of the 2025 World Happiness Report (selecting Asia and top performers)

Country/Region	Fraction	Ranking
Finland	7.8	1
Denmark	7.6	2
Iceland	7.5	3
Sweden	7.4	4
Netherlands	7.3	5
Taiwan	6.7	27
Singapore	6.0	34
Chinese mainland	5.8	68
Hongkong	5.3	88

The chart shows that happiness is not absolutely correlated with GDP. Although Hong Kong has a developed economy, it ranks low in terms of stress.

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The root of suffering and the cause of liberation

"Where do we come from? Where do we go after death?" This question breaks away from the attachment to linear time and emphasizes awareness of the present moment.

The essence of life's deception: clinging to external things and ignoring impermanence.

The path to liberation: observation and acceptance. These teachings are especially relevant in Hong Kong's fast-paced life, helping people transcend material pursuits.

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Conclusion: Find freedom within.

The deception of life is not despair, but an opportunity for awakening. Liberation can be achieved through time management, data reflection, and self-cultivation. Don't wait until old age to learn the Way.

Morning Observation of ImpermanenceWrite a diary entry in 5 minutes: "What did I hold onto today?"

Midday Mindfulness: Notices taste while eating, but not automatically.

Evening Practice of CompassionMeditation: "May all beings be free from suffering."

Further reading:

• [Video] How to effectively solve problems encountered
• [Video] The Essence of Learning: Repetition, Repetition, Extreme Repetition - The Only Way to Break Through Mediocrity
• The Law of Human Sobriety, a recipe for avoiding screwing up your life