The practice of impermanence
Perhaps you have come to the conclusion that you are aware of the concept of impermanence in Buddhism, but Thích Nhất Hạnh teaches us that this is not enough; it needs to be practiced.
He states in The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching:
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.
In Breathe, You Are Alive!, Thích Nhất Hạnh emphasizes the significance of embracing impermanence and its rewards. He encourages readers to understand that things are not permanent and to make an effort to keep this in mind in every moment. Doing so will bring about wisdom and joy.
Pema Chödrön suggests that we can begin to cultivate an awareness of impermanence by recognizing it when it is occurring.
In When Things Fall Apart, she writes:
When impermanence presents itself in our lives, we can recognize it as impermanence. We don’t have to look for opportunities to do this.
When your pen runs out of ink in the middle of writing an important letter, recognize it as impermanence, part of the whole cycle of life.
When someone’s born, recognize it as impermanence.
When someone dies, recognize it as impermanence.
When your car gets stolen, recognize it as impermanence.
When you fall in love, recognize it as impermanence, and let that intensify the preciousness.
When a relationship ends, recognize it as impermanence.
There are countless examples of impermanence in our lives every day, from the moment we wake up until we fall asleep and even while we’re dreaming, all the time.
References
- Blindsided by Impermanence
- Amazon: Breathe, You Are Alive! by Thich Nhat Hanh
- Amazon: When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron
