02/08/2026
Fire Horse Year (2026)
Here we are at the end of the old year and looking forward to the dawn of yet another ‘new’ year and, once again, I find myself burdened by the need to say something ‘meaningful’. (This message will hopefully cover all the new years in 2026, from the lunar to the solar and everything in between.)
It is customary at this time to offer auspicious gifts and words in the hope that a streak of favourable circumstances will pave our way over the next twelve months. Traditionally, there are countless auspicious images that I could choose to send you, for example a photo of a beautiful flower or one of the eight auspicious symbols. But honestly speaking, a photo of auspicious golden fishes doesn’t mean that much to me. I would rather send you a reminder of the best thing that happened last year. You may find it hard to imagine what that ‘best thing’ might be, especially given the pandemonium of insecurity that was unleashed by the
mighty and the powerful as their comfortable lives began slipping away. If that is the case, try opening your heart and mind and look in a different direction. Beyond all the short-sighted kerfuffle that dominates the headlines, there is so much beauty, inspiration and encouragement to be found.
In my case, it was seeing photos and video clips of the incredible monks Walking for Peace that melted my proud, cold heart. I find myself weeping each time I watch or read about their journey. So many people have been moved by these monks. A burly, gun-toting American policeman bowed humbly before a monk to show his respect. People of all ages and from all walks of life lined the streets to offer the monks woolly hats and ChapSticks and even sandwiches. And the Native Americans who galloped after the monks to ask for blessings. These people may never know who the monks are. They may never learn anything about their chosen path. They may never realise that the robes worn by the monks are the banner of the Buddha. Yet, watching monks simply walk brings them happiness.
For me, the most impressive part of all this is that by simply walking, the monks plant a seed in everyone who sets eyes on them, forging a connection between thousands of people and the Buddha. The monks have achieved more by walking through America for two months than Tibetan lamas have achieved by teaching in the West for years. I told my friends as much and they think I am exaggerating. But am I? We pride ourselves on being objective, rational and pragmatic, yet all our rational thinking crumbles when we glimpse a monk walking in the snow and an inexplicable sense of profound peace floods our minds and hearts. It is this feeling of deep peace that so many of us lack.
I am often asked, ‘How can I live meaningfully?’ ‘Meaning’ is not a feeling. ‘Meaning’ is not so-called happiness or fulfilment – happiness and fulfilment come and go. ‘Meaning’ cannot be found in strident opposition or activism, which does little more than fetter personal freedom. Those who shout about freedom often become fodder for the mighty corporations. We find meaning in life by taking responsibility and dedicating ourselves to accomplishing something ‘meaningful’. The monks decided simply to walk for peace. This decision matters so much to them that everything else is mere detail. ‘The meaning of life’ is therefore something that we construct for ourselves.
The act of appeasement is worthy of celebration – not my version of peace, not your version of peace, just peace. I am glad that I am able to share this picture with you. If you momentarily feel what I feel, it’s worth it.
In the coming year, the year of the Fire Horse, many future friends will be conceived and many others will be born. I pray that your generation will do a better job of caring for this world than we have.
I pray that my young friends, those who have already been born into this world, will learn to be resilient. In this era of megalomania and obsession with selfies, I pray that once in a while you will cultivate empathy by putting yourselves in other people’s shoes.
My older friends, people of my own age, have not always had the luxury of choosing our direction in life. When we have had a choice, by choosing one option we have automatically had to exclude the others, making it impossible for us to experience everything in life.
I pray we are all mature enough to accept the pain of ‘consciousness’, which is not necessarily bad and often humbling. Those whose lives are too comfortable rarely experience the good fortune of being consciously aware and are almost never humble. Humility is a quality everyone needs right now. In other words, celebrate the life you have led until now and pray you will be able to make the most of what life you have left.
In conclusion, I prostrate from my room in the far east towards America in the west, where monks are Walking for Peace. I pray for all the children who lost their mothers in this world’s endless wars. And for those like me, who are followers of the Buddha, I pray that we never stop longing for the truth.
—Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse
