Maybe it’s my age… but Patrul Rinpoche’s famous advice has never made more sense:

“Take the example of an old cow,
She’s content to sleep in a barn,
You have to eat, sleep, and shit —
That’s unavoidable —
But beyond that is none of your business.”

With each passing year, I see more clearly that what matters is not what I do, but what I am; not the form of an action, but the intention that drives it. Revolutions can change appearances, but only wisdom transforms the human heart. When I think of all we’ve done — myself, each of us, and the countless millions before us — I can’t help feeling that most of it has been useless, if not harmful. How many died so that every small piece of land on this planet is someone’s property? Was it worth it?

It’s strange: we’ve built astonishing technology, yet we still don’t know who we are or how to live in peace with ourselves, others, and nature. We can connect instantly with someone on the far side of the planet, yet we have no idea where our thoughts come from or what they truly are. We call ourselves “human beings,” yet we only make time to do, never to be. There’s a great deal of intelligence in the world, but very little kindness.

Perhaps our essentials extend a little beyond what Patrul Rinpoche listed. But the essence of his advice remains: we should focus on the essentials and spend the rest of our time simply being — smelling, savouring, feeling, noticing. That’s where happiness can be found.