Contemplating and Embracing Impermanence

by Venerable Kwang Sheng

Everything changes. Nothing lasts forever.

Impermanence, aniccā in Pali, is at the heart of Buddha’s teachings. It is one of the three marks of existence in Buddhism — three simple truths that characterise all existence and beings — along with non-self (anattā) and unsatisfactoriness/ suffering (duḥkha).

The Buddha teaches us that attachment causes suffering. In our daily lives, we inadvertently cling to things and desires like material wealth, fame, and happiness, without consciously realising their transient nature and the inescapable truth that these things will someday change, fade, and vanish. And when that day comes, these attachments make us dissatisfied, angry, and vulnerable to suffering.

As we get caught up with our busy, modern lifestyles, it is easy to forget the uncomfortable truth that our lives too, are impermanent, slipping away from us moment to moment, day by day.

In his teachings, Buddha often reminds his followers to contemplate the reality of impermanence. In the Sutra of Impermanence, Buddha teaches us that the four most cherished things in life, namely good health, youth, prosperity, and life itself, are essentially impermanent.

“Good health is impermanent,

Youth does not last.

Prosperity is impermanent,

And life, too, does not last.

How can beings, afflicted as they are by impermanence,

Take delight in desirable things like these?”

─ Excerpted from the Sutra of Impermanence

This begs the question: does the impermanent nature of things then make our sojourn in this world meaningless?

Acknowledging that all things are impermanent and living in harmony with this truth invites happiness into our lives.

Contemplating and embracing impermanence can help everyday people like us live more balanced lives, cope with difficulties and emerge stronger. This also reminds us to loosen our attachments to things in daily life, which can help to lessen feelings of discontentment and dissatisfaction.