IMPERMANENCE

Intellectually we know that everything is impermanent, but in our daily life we still behave as if things are permanent. Impermanence is more than an idea. It is a practice to help us touch reality. Every time we look or listen, the object of our perception can reveal to us the nature of impermanence. We can nourish our insight into impermanence all day long. When we look deeply into impermanence, we see that things change because causes and conditions change.

We need to learn to appreciate the value of impermanence. If we are in good health and are aware of impermanence, we will take good care of ourselves. When we know that the person we love is impermanent, we will cherish our beloved all the more. Impermanence teaches us to respect and value every moment and all the precious things around us and inside us. When we practice mindfulness of impermanence, we don’t take things for granted and we become more present, more loving, and we see everything with fresh eyes.

Looking deeply can become a way of life. We can practice conscious breathing to help us be in touch with things and look deeply at their impermanent nature. This practice will keep us from complaining that everything is impermanent. Impermanence is what makes transformation possible. Thanks to impermanence, we can change suffering into joy. When we practice the art of mindful living, then when things change, we won’t have any regrets.

We have to nourish our insight into impermanence every day. If we do, we will live more deeply, suffer less, and enjoy life much more. Living deeply, we will touch the foundation of reality: nirvana, the world of no birth and no death. Touching impermanence deeply, we touch the world beyond permanence and impermanence. We touch the ground of being and see that what we have called being and nonbeing are just notions. Nothing is ever lost. Nothing is ever gained.