Why is knowing Impermanence important??
Thich Nhat Hanh is an expatriate Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk. A teacher, author, and peace activist, Nhat Hanh was born in central Vietnam on October 11, 1926. He joined a Zen monastery at the age of 16, studied Buddhism as a novice, and was fully ordained as a monk in 1949. The title Thích is used by all Vietnamese monks and nuns, meaning that they are part of the Shakya (Shakyamuni Buddha) clan. He coined the term Engaged Buddhism in his book Vietnam: Lotus in a Sea of Fire. This is what he says about the “impermanence” and mindfullness. Enjoy reading and know about impermanence.
LONG LIVE IMPERMANENCE!!!
The Buddha taught that everything is impermanent- flowers, tables, mountains, political regimes, bodies, feelings, perceptions, mental formations, and consciousness. We cannot find anything that is permanent. Flowers decompose, but knowing this does not prevent us from loving flowers. In fact, we are able to love them more because we know how to treasure them while they are still alive. If we learn to look at a flower in a way that impermanence is revealed to us, when it dies, we will not suffer. Impermanence is more than an idea. It is a practice to help us touch reality.
When we study impermanence, we have to ask, “Is there anything in this teaching that has to do with my daily life, my daily difficulties, my suffering?” If we see impermanence as merely a philosophy, it is not the Buddha’s teaching. Every time we look or listen, the object of our perception can reveal to us the nature of impermanence. We have to nourish our insight into impermanence all day long.
When we look deeply into impermanence, we see that things change because causes and conditions change. When we look deeply into non-self, we see that the existence of every single thing is possible only because of the existence of everything else. We see everything else is the cause and condition for its existence. We see that everything else is in it.
From the point of view of time, we say “impermanence”, and from the point of view of space, we say “non-self”. Things cannot remain themselves for two consecutive moments, therefore, there is nothing that can be called a permanent “self”. Before you entered this room, you were different physically and mentally. Looking deeply at impermanence, you see non-self. Looking deeply at non-self, you see impermanence. We can say, “I can accept impermanence, but nonself is too difficult”. They are the same.
Understanding impermanence can give us confidence, peace, and joy. Impermanence does not necessarily lead us to suffering. Without impermanence, life could not be. Without impermanence, your daughter could not grow into a beautiful young lady. Without impermanence, oppressive political regimes would never change. We think impermanence makes us suffer. The Buddha gave the example of a dog that was hit by a stone and got angry at the stone. It is not impermanence that makes us suffer. What makes us suffer is wanting things to be permanent when they are not.
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 of us. When we practice mindfulness of impermanence, we become fresher and more loving.
Looking deeply can become a way of life. We can practice conscious breathing to help us be in touch with things and to look deeply at their impermanent nature. This practice will keep us from complaining that everything is impermanent and therefore not worth living for. Impermanence is what makes transformation possible. We should learn to say, “Long live impermanence”. Thanks to impermanence, we can change sufferings into joy.
If we practice the art of mindful living, when things change, we won’t have any regrets. We can smile, because we have done our best to enjoy every moment of our life and to make others happy. When you get into an argument with someone you love, please close your eyes and visualize yourselves three hundred years from now. When you open your eyes, you will only want to take each other in your arms and acknowledge how precious each of you is. The teaching of impermanence helps us appreciate fully what is there, without attachment or forgetfulness.
We have to nourish our insight into impermanence every day. If we do, we will live more deeply, suffer less, and enjoy life 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 which we have called being and non-being are just notions. Nothing is ever lost. Nothing is ever gained.
Dear everyone,
The most Ven Thich Nhat Hanh is already 85 but looks so radiant and serene. What a spectacular monk and inspiration to so many. May he live a thousand years more. I like this picture of Ven Thich Nhat Hanh as he is in traditional Vietnamese ceremonial robes with a brocade hat reminding us of Tsongkapa’s hat. Unique. The Vietnamese also employ brocades and special robes for high monks. So interesting.
I came across some a wonderful teaching by Ven Thich Nhat Hanh on Impermanence(posted here) that I would like you to read and comment on my blog space below. I want to know how this talk can be applied to your life? How it would relieve you of some mental burdens maybe or avoid future mental traps….I look forward to see your comments on my blog as well as other people would find your thoughts helpful and interesting.
Also:
I found this incredible letter written by Dr Martin Luther King to the Nobel Peace Committee recommending Ven Thich Nhat Hanh as a recipient for Nobel. Wow. The letter is so well written in it’s simplicity, directness and honesty. Please read it and feel the good energy radiating from Dr King and Ven Thich. And did you know they were friends??? I didn’t. They were good friends.
Please read: http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/great-lamas-masters/dr-martin-luther-king-nominate-thich-nhat-hanh-for-nobel-peace-prize.html
Please read and be inspired. Tsem Rinpoche
Thanks Rinpoche for sharing this valuable teaching,
I did have something pathetic thoughts in my mind before such as if everything is impermanence, then I rather don’t have it so I won’t feel bad when I lost it. Buddhism opens up another angle for me, since everything is impermanence, so we gotta do the best when we can, because when the conditions is not there anymore, we would waste the chance of what we can give.
I used to live with a motto in Chinese “活在当下” (Live in the present), the definition for me that time was to dare me to do something exciting and new. Now I have a better definition for this motto which is giving the best at every moment, as the current condition is impermanence, you won’t know when you going to lose it but that is not the point, the point is how much you can give, now.
If we learn to say and to accept now “LONG LIVE IMPERMANENCE!”, finally we will be able to say, The IMPERMANENCE died, LONG LIVE Dharmakaya!
Thank goodness for impermanence. Without it, life would be “boring”, we would stay mad at the annoying client “forever”, our children will “always” be peeing on the bed, the terrible zit on our nose would “never” disappear. Without impermanence, there would be no way out of samsara (?) This is very thought provoking, must share especially with friends who have everything and complain about everything! =p
Thank you for this reminder on impermanence. i like very much the reference “It is not impermanence that makes us suffer. What makes us suffer is wanting things to be permanent when they are not.” I think often we misunderstand impermanence and blame our unhappiness on impermanence when it is our refusal to accept that the nature of everything is impermanence which causes our unhappiness.
What i like about this article in particular is how impermanence can actually be positive – because everything can change, so can negative situations turn positive. Just because a situation is not good at the moment – eg the political situation referred to above – does not mean that it will always be that way. Likewise, whatever suffering we endure will come to pass, as will every pleasure we are experiencing.
I say that this article is a good reminder on impermanence because Rinpoche has already taught this to us.. Fortunately, we have constant reminders like this to shake us out of our habitual delusions.
Have to really digest this topic properly, get it planted in mind in order to handle daily obstacles. To me, habitually i always hopes that people treat me “impermanently” , meaning appreciate me etc. But, i forget that i tends to treat people “permanently” thus i forget they are “impermanent.” Thus the term “WAIT” is a murderer for me, i know this “murderer” yet i still let its come on my way…
Impermanence does make me realise the priority of collec possible on daily basis as there is a possibility that I would hour, minute or second. In this present world of samsara, entertainment everywhere that canbe easily accessible at watching movies. By realising the nature of impermanenc shopping mall or in cinema after work if I manage to go b more time on making offerings to the 3 jewels and recitin buddhas and other prayers to fill up my merit piggy bank. only 3 places that I would go to after death –animal realm hell realm that sufferings are routine activities for one bo that through the understanding of impermanence, I’m ab frustration and feeling of despair whenever I’m stuck in b a period longer than a year, bad situation can be improve situation can become bad anytime.
Dearest Rinpoche,
I first came across Ven Thich Nhat Hanh when one of our Dharma sister pass a photocopy of his teaching for us to read. However, she was reprimanded by her younger brother for reading them. I felt very uncomfortable when I meet up with this family. I am so sorry that I brought this up although it is not connect to here. I am glad that our Dearest Rinpoche shared this with us today for if they have read Rinpoche’s blog I am sure my Dharma Sister will be comforted for reading Ven Thich Nhat Hanh though she was reprimanded. I hope they find peace. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this with all of us.
Thank you Tsem Rinpoche for this sharing…
Used to think since everything is impermanent so why bother… yup. Reading this gives me a new perspective and learning to appreciate the value of the theory of impermanence (easily twisted & misunderstood) better.
I found this subtle profound para stood out for me as I come to terms with many disappointments in myself and others… “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 of us. When we practice mindfulness of impermanence, we become fresher and more loving.” – this is something I often forget and causes a lot of pain, especially when someone you love goes away, dies, or is not the person you thought.
I’m always so afraid of loving with all my heart because I was afraid of being disappointed… now I can look at the impermanence as a positive thing and not negative and so the fear to love should be transform to the fear not to ever love for that person, moment, could be gone in a blink. Many of us know this in theory but failed countless times to remember and act wisely.
The next time I’m feeling “not in the mood” or about to get “angry”… shall close my eyes and visualize 100 years from now…
Mindful of impermanence help to reduce my craving for things I like.
When it comes to losing things, whether possessions, or face, it also
cushions the ‘ suffering’ associated with feeling of loss.
Daily I face disappointment of not getting what I want , losing them, and not able to control any situation fully. Reflecting deeper, there is practical wisdom written here. Problems arise when we lose this wisdom esp in relationships . When attachment sets in happiness is gone !
From my experiences , I enjoy sunsets, rainbows, a performance etc. We can enjoy temporariness. We don’t want them to last. How exquisite ! Life will be really boring if things all remain static. There will be no creativity and creation. Because everything changes and life is so fleeting, it makes sense to not waste it in doing meaningless things.
It is also a very good time manager – reminds me to put effort to practice now and with diligence . Even though there is tomorrow , next year , good conditions change anytime and death , impermanence of our life can come sooner than later.
Next time for whatever reason i quarrel with my wife or my father, i will go to the toilet and wash my face, visualise the image of me making offerings to the person(touch wood though,but it will happen. Maybe it’s the way round wahahha..).
Then i will go back to them and smile like an idiot from my heart. I’m so sure that they will cool down and communicate.. it’ll be a bonus that they smile back at me.
When I come across to this teaching, it always tells me that nothing will last forever.
This changes happening now, every second, as I’m typing this reply…
By saying I understand impermanence doesn’t mean I can accept but by facing it “now” with no complaint, take every single opportunity to care someone, love someone and appreciate someone…I think this show how far I believe in it.
Knowing things change every moment is also good for us not to take things for granted and we always find ways to improve & move forward.
By knowing impermanence we might always thought things change without our control but we can make/initiate the changes ourselves for better.
If we are used to changes in positive way whether things changes in our live it just another unexpected moment to past but we make it meaningful for others and yourself.
Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing
The below texts strike in my mind about IMPERMANENCE the most!
“Impermanence is more than an idea. It is a practice to help us touch reality.The teaching of impermanence helps us appreciate fully what is there, without attachment or forgetfulness.”
To me, IMPERMANENCE truly a practice, the practice that help me to let go of attachment,eg money,relationship,material things etc, once mindful that all these are impermanence,when things change not according to what I expect, I accept and do not feel regret and unhappy or emotion about , or grasping on for losing something.
If I continue PRACTICE IMPERMANENCE,definitely I
“will live more deeply, suffer less, and enjoy life more.”
Everyday I try to remind myself things, actions, circumstances are all impermanent. It has helped me let go of angry situations, frustrations. Reading this teaching, I am now reminded to appreciate more the benefits of impermanence eg. enjoy the flower before it is gone, look after ourselves as we will never be in this same healthy physical state tomorrow, use ‘now’ to do something worthwhile as tomorrow, I may not be in a physical position to help others. Thank you for this reminder Tsem Rinpoche.
Every day like a lot of people, I recite the 8 Verses Of Mind Transformation. It is impossible to achieve any success in mind training and experience transformation if our mind is still seeing things as impermanent whether we recognize it or not. E.g. by habit, we like or dislike certain people or situations because of our subtle and yet fixed ideas and impression of that person/situation. Except in more extreme cases where how fixed my mind is on things became blatant, I often fail to catch it. This teaching has helped me to remember Impermanence and appreciate that without Impermanence, I can never transform my mind for the better.
Recalling Impermanence also prepares me to part with everything that I like, need, enjoy, and depend on in my life. This includes this blog, the Guru’s teachings and even the Guru. So every second and every minute detail count.
Sorry, typo. I meant to write ” …if our mind is till seeing things as permanent…”. To add, having a strong grasp of the significance of Impermanence, helps to combat our own Expectations.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing such a wonderful topic.
Impermanence exist everywhere from the flowers dying to our emotions. We get upset easily yet we know that the feelings will dissipate as fast as it came. I will remind myself to read and understand the teachings above again and again. We should always cherish everything and everyone around us because of impermanence. Bringing love, joy and cherishing everything/everyone else are definitely some of the ways to make it better.
Thich Nhat Hant looks like Lama Tsongkhapa in a way
Without impermanence everything is monotonous unchanging, I think we all be bored. Imagine staying as a child of 2 forever, small and need others to help you. Through impermanence we can evolve to a better less selfish person, else if we are selfish we can never change that and who like to be remembered for being selfish throughout our lives?
Becoming a Buddha is also then a possibility.
“When you get into an argument with someone you love, please close your eyes and visualize yourselves three hundred years from now. When you open your eyes, you will only want to take each other in your arms and acknowledge how precious each of you is. The teaching of impermanence helps us appreciate fully what is there, without attachment or forgetfulness.”
The above para is a stark reminder for me when I encounter a similar situation in future.
Thank you, Rinpoche, for teaching Impermanence and for posting this article as a reminder.
1) when i get stuck in a traffic jam, and i think “i’m gonna be stuck here forever !” . then i think of impermanence… nah. not going to happen.
2) when I’m waiting ages for the food in the restaurant to arrive, and i think ” arggh ! the food will never get here ! ” then i think of impermanence .. the food will get here eventually.
3) when I think of my loved one, and think “i will love them forever !” , then I think of impermanence , and feel sad. Eventually we would have to part. I wish I had buddha’s powers .. then i can make that happen.
Realising impermanence creates the reason for us to practise and to exert ourselves in order to free ourselves from further sufferings. Of the aspects of impermanence, subtle momentary changes of existence are very hard to ascertain. Awareness of death, the most important example of loose form of impermanence is of course very difficult to realise. As stated in the Dharma teachings of Lord Buddha, the four characteristics of impermanence in samara are:- (i) That which is collected seperates into its components. (ii) Birth inevitably leads to Death. (iii) High position later leads to a lower position, and (iv) meeting leads to parting. Only upon the attainment of Nirvana do all Karma an transience come to an end. Invariably for anyone, of all incentives for Dharma practice, the greatest is for the awareness of Death! All Buddha’s teachings are the methods to overcome delusions, the source of all fears. In this way,we can gain control and will have no cause to fear.
Thank you, Rinpoche, for sharing this teaching on the Mindfulness of Impermanence by Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh.
I love the poetry in his teaching. His ‘engaged Buddhism’ comes to the forefront here too. He urges us to engage in total,by bringing our full awareness to each experience. From a lovely flower to one’s beloved,to an encounter with an angry being, if we bring the practice of mindfulness of impermanence to every fleeting moment of each day, then we will live the moment deeply and fully,experience less pain and suffering, enjoy life more and gain greater peace.
Without impermanence, there is no hope for life. Impermanence helps me to see and improve my good qualities and gave me strength to reduce and eventually eliminate my negativity.
I contemplate impermanence before I go to bed every night, after I reflected on what I’ve done in a day. This contemplation of impermanence reminds my that this “I” is subject to change and it is in existent because of the coming together of different “atoms”. I tried to integrate impermanence with emptiness, contemplate that a person or things merely exist due to the joining of various conditions. Because conditions are subject to change, therefore a person or things are impermanence. But, if it is impermanence, how come I still feel that this “I” is solid? I think the problem is due to the mind grasping onto this body. Because the mind is unaware of the emptiness aspects of this body, therefore it holds onto the body as if it is undestroyable. Through “scanning” my body from top to toe with an alert mind, sometimes I feel the energy flow of the body and no body, so to speak. This, I guess is the mere touch of the emptiness side of the body. Throughout this contemplation, I constantly remind myself on impermanence of the body, speech and mind. With this in mind, I contemplate death, if I haven’t fallen asleep by then, LOL.
Inspired by Tsem Rinpoche on his post “Dear Henry, Contemplate Daily” (http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/inspiration-worthy-words/dear-henry-contemplate-daily.html), I tried to contemplate my death creatively, like my top bunk collapse onto me and smash me into pieces, hehe. This helps me to let go of the unpleasant experience I had in a day and rejoice in my good deeds, so that I can die without regret if my death comes when I sleep.
When I wake up in the morning, I contemplate on impermanence that today is a new day, that any positive thing can be happening. What happened yesterday are in the past and I can make things better for today. I then remind myself the only reason I am breathing and alive is to do good to benefit others. This reminder is inspired by HH the 14th Dalai Lama from his book “Become Enlightened”. With this reminder “pop-out” first thing when I am awake, whatever I do in that day, I will do it happily (most of the time with an undisturbed mind), even if I got blamed for nothing, in a way, hehe.
Thank you Rinpoche for this wonderful post on impermanence. I met Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh in April this year and I have learned to be mindful of my actions and negative feelings, and to embrace my negativity like a mother comforting a crying child. Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh is a real practitioner. You can definitely feel his compassionate and peaceful energy in present!
What a clear and wonderful teaching on impermanence. I used to think that “Yes, everything is going to fade away someday, so I should go experience life to the fullest.” But in a wrong way, then I begin to have more holidays, more food, more material gains because they are “impermanence” and fades away. It begins to have a lot of “me” time… Not knowing the true meaning of impermanence, more attachments are actually created.
Now, I love contemplating on impermanence these days, not only it helps to reduce anger and attachment, I am given a second shot in life to do something beneficial for others. Very simple, because life is precious and since we can not even hang on to “anything” in life… So why not do something meaningful in our lives? Because if there is a mind, there must be a cause of how the mind exist, then there must be reincarnation, if there is reincarnation; there must be animals, spirits, humans, gods and Buddha.
So whatever we are doing now, determines what happen next. We can choose.
Over the past few months, I have been getting into arguments over silly things with a loved one, not realizing how each argument was making the relationship deteriorate. It was primarily me getting mad at certain things because I wanted a sense of security and permanency in the relationship. Not realizing impermanence, I have acted pretty badly.
It really hit home when Ven Thich Nhat Hanh said, “When you get into an argument with someone you love, please close your eyes and visualize yourselves three hundred years from now. When you open your eyes, you will only want to take each other in your arms and acknowledge how precious each of you is. The teaching of impermanence helps us appreciate fully what is there, without attachment or forgetfulness.”
300 years later… 100 years later… even 10 years later, or 10 months later, we may be gone. When I read this, I realized how ignorant I have been. I can’t take back what I have done in the past, but to close my eyes and think about the day it will end… I must be a kind person today, here and now. There is no other time, before its to late.
Thanks Rinpoche for the sharing.
“When you get into an argument with someone you love, please close your eyes and visualize yourselves three hundred years from now. When you open your eyes, you will only want to take each other in your arms and acknowledge how precious each of you is. The teaching of impermanence helps us appreciate fully what is there, without attachment or forgetfulness.”
Yes, this remind me very deep of IMPERMANENCE! We have to change our negative mind to positive mind just think of IMPERMANENCE. So that we don’t waste our time and affort in argument but think deeply how can we change and make people more happy.
I will practice “IMPERMANENCE” daily to be vigilant myself to be a better person.
Knowing that impermanence exist, I realise that I will not be in any form forever, as if there is impermanence, I will stay this form forever. As such, I have no form, if there is I will not grow old, I will stay the same when I was born. If there is permanence, I will not grow old….And our awakened mind is permanence. [reply]
I read this article again and it hit me that Impermanence is really happening in our daily lives and that I change every second of the day. My mind condition, my body and all things around me which make it never the same all the time. This is a great cos i have the opportunity to change the sufferings into joys, as stated by Ven. Thich.
Nowadays I am not so affected when things change or does not go according to plan. Of course i still get agitated but i am able to catch myself from this feeling and be more mindful of my feelings and actions. Just gotta practice it. Thank you Rinpoche for this article teaching.
Impermanence – nothing good or bad last forever.Every seconds the clock ticks away, my body and situations changed. Everything that happened became a dream……
Understanding impermanence makes me not so attached to my anger, pain and sufferings as I know that it will not last forever. I appreciate life better and try to make every moment of my life more meaningful and beneficial instead of wasting away. Life is uncertain, death is so I try not to procrastinate what i want to achieve. What if I were to die tomorrow? Will I have any regrets? If the answer is yes, than I have not really understood impermanence.
I like the advise from Ven Thich Nhat Hanh “When you get into an argument with someone you love, please close your eyes and visualize yourselves three hundred years from now. When you open your eyes, you will only want to take each other in your arms and acknowledge how precious each of you is. The teaching of impermanence helps us appreciate fully what is there, without attachment or forgetfulness.”
By then I will be gone. I cannot take back what I have done in the past but I will take this advice to heart and put into practice now before it is too late.