"I am just a little stone or a little tree set on a great hill... As I perceive my own inferiority, how could I ever be proud?" Yes, a great challenge to us all, and our egos. The universe is vast and ancient; Earth is so small and will exist for such a short time relatively speaking. We, the inhabitants of the Earth, are even smaller and live such short lives. Thus, yes, we should never be proud. On the other hand though, we should appreciate the beauty and momentary significance of the tiniest thing we come across; a pebble, a blade of grass, a smile. "When talking of all life, we count them in tens of thousands, and humanity is just one of them." This is a reiteration of the point above, that humanity, and we as individuals, are insignificant so should not get het up about anything or everything. So stay humble and chill out. "There is nothing constant in Fate; beginning and end have no regulation." Therefore, don't worry about changes to come, and...
Mindfulness is taught as a therapy for those suffering from stress, etc. But it was originally a route to a better way of living life, within the anti-philosophy of Zen. People are obsessed with plans and ambitions. But when goals are achieved the result is often the absence of any satisfaction. Zen teaches us to focus on the present, and enjoy the simple beauties of everyday life. It also has implications for how we can be as a society and as a species. I explore all of this here.