Precious human birth

"Precious human birth" is one of what's known as "The Four Great Contemplations". This is an exercise in gratitude. When we contemplate our human birth and are grateful for it, the point is not to devalue animals but rather to remember that, as humans, we are able to reflect on our experience and thus are able to engage in spiritual practice. I've said many times that my cats are better meditators than I am --- but can they reflect on their experience? That we don't know. But we know that we can.

Here is a wonderful statement by Douglas Adams on the joy of that human reflection:

The world is a thing of utter inordinate complexity and richness and strangeness that is absolutely awesome. I mean the idea that such complexity can arise not only out of such simplicity, but probably absolutely out of nothing, is the most fabulous extraordinary idea. And once you get some kind of inkling of how that might have happened, it's just wonderful. And . . . the opportunity to spend 70 or 80 years of your life in such a universe is time well spent as far as I am concerned.

Sometime today, stop and remember the big picture. And then see your time here as time well spent.