Impermanence Discussion

There are turtles that live to be over a hundred years old, and trees that live for thousands of years. We only live for a hundred years at most. What do we want to accomplish most with this time? What are the majority of our days like? How are we living during the time we’re here? When we reflect back on our life, what will we have done?

Time moves very quickly. Injury or death can come unexpectedly. Waiting until tomorrow to be happy or saying we’ll do something meaningful later could be too late. 

We can live deeply in the present so that our life is fully experienced. We can avoid wasting our precious time by being fully engaged with each moment. We can avoid regrets when we’re focused and connected to the present moment. 

Impermanence is something wonderful. We can free ourselves from stagnation and inspire our gratitude by viewing everything around us with eyes of impermanence. The flowers, animals, people, objects, and places we love will become unrecognizable at some point, so we practice appreciating the wonderful things around us fully, as they are now.

“Now is the future that you promised yourself last year, last month, last week. Now is the only moment you’ll ever really have.
Mindfulness is about waking up to this.” - Mark Williams

Deepen Your Understanding: When we feel cravings, strong emotions, or other impulsive feelings, we can use impermanence to remind us that these feelings are temporary. We can wait for our urge to pass, know that happiness will return, and feel assured that any difficult situations will eventually change. 

Cravings + Desires

Shifting to Positive Emotions

Impermanence Contemplation

Lessons in Emptiness

Formerly glowing cheeks and pink lips,
Today cold ashes and white bones.
Position, renown though unsurpassed, 
they are but part of a long dream.
However rich and noble you are,
you are no less impermanent.
Jealousy, pride, and self-clinging,
but self is always empty.
Great strength, ability, and success,
but in them is no final truth. 

Since the four elements come apart, 
why discriminate old from young?
Crevices erode even mountains, 
more quickly than the hero is dead.
Black hair has hardly grown on our head, 
when suddenly it has turned white.
Our well-wisher has just departed,
a mourner arrives on our death.
This six-foot skeleton of dry bones— 
with what effort it seeks riches.
This wrapping of skin containing blood
suffers year after year just because of attachment.
​​

Contemplation written by thirteenth-century Vietnamese King
Tran Thai Tong

Befriending the Idea of Death

It’s common for people to avoid or fear the idea of death. Instead of feeling afraid of loss or change, we can familiarize ourselves with the concept of impermanence. We are not permanent objects, which is why we cherish the present moment. We try to savor every moment, because we recognize that everything will eventually change. Befriending the idea of death can inspire us to live in full gratitude for the now.

If you feel yourself filling with fear at the idea of death, take that energy and apply it to living your best life, now. Do you spend your time wisely? Do you challenge yourself enough? How many moments of your day are you truly present for? Is there something you can do right now to strengthen a relationship, build a skill, or contribute something meaningful to the world? Don’t delay in doing these things. Break out of your cyclic habits and live life in the now.

The Five Remembrances

The Five Remembrances is a Buddhist teaching that allows us to contemplate impermanence.
​Observe your feelings and notice any reactions as you contemplate the following:

I am of the nature to grow old. 
There is no way to escape getting old. 

I am of the nature to have ill health. 
There is no way to escape ill health. 

I am of the nature to die. 
There is no way to escape death. 

All that is dear to me and everyone I love
​ are of the nature to change. 
There is no way to escape being separated from them. 

My actions are my only true belongings. 
I cannot escape the consequences of my actions. 

My actions are the ground upon which I stand.

Please do not read these concepts in a negative or ominous way, as that will only cause suffering. We instead practice smiling at these ideas, acknowledging the ever-present impermanence surrounding us. Look deeply into these words to release from any fear of loss, sickness, injury, separation, death, and to develop a clearer picture of how you spend your time. We can’t be sure of what our experience will be or how much time we have - all we’re really guaranteed is this moment. When we tune into how things really are, we can appreciate an abundance of precious and extraordinary moments in every second. By acknowledging the impermanence of our existence, we can be happy and boldly live life to the fullest so we may get the most out of our time.

300 Years From Now

When we are angry, offended, or sad about another person in our life, we can settle any overwhelming emotions by looking deeply: 

Three hundred years from now, where will I be and where will the the other person be?

More Core Concepts