A Face So Calm

One Deva asked the Buddha:

Those who abide in the forest,

Peaceful, living the holy life:

Those who eat but a single meal:

--why is it their face is so calm?

Then The Buddha gave answer to him:

They do not grieve over the past,

Nor do they yearn for the future:

They live only in the present

--That is why their face is so calm.

It's from yearning for the future,

And from grieving over the past:

This is how fools become withered

--Like a fresh reed that's been hacked down.

                                                                  (Aranna Sutta: SN 1. 10)