Impermanence

In all the classes this week we've taken a look at the importance of meditating on impermanence. The passage I'm offering you today is from A Guide to Tibetan Buddhist Practice by Ringu Tulku Rinpoche. Unfortunately I'm not able to link to a source for this book as it is not formally published but rather photocopied and spiral bound. The book is a transcript of talks given by Ringu Tulku. We can get copies at the Center by ordering from a Buddhist book store in Albuquerque, however. Here's the passage:

How do you meditate on impermanence? There are many different ways or different methods. First, contemplate the impermanence of the outside world, and then contemplate the impermanence of the beings living on it. In respect of the outside world, you can think of two more levels, that is the impermanence of the world in general, and then the impermanence of objects in it.

Firstly, think of the world, how it has changed since the beginning of time, how it was formed and how it will disintegrate in the end. This great earth, which we inhabit; the sun and the moon which we know so well, there will come a time when they too will disintegrate and vanish. Even within this universe, the solar systems, the planets and the stars - not one of these things is permanent.

Secondly, there are not only these great changes, but there are so many small changes, like the changing of the seasons, the change from day to night, from sunshine to rain. There is no pause in time; every moment brings change. Therefore, think of these things, that nothing stands still in space, everything is changing all the time. Try to think of these things and understand that this is how to meditate on the impermanence of the outside world.

Now think about the beings on this earth; they are also impermanent. We can look around us and see other beings changing, we can see them growing older, we can see them dying. Things like that should remind us how impermanent everything is. We can also think of our own death, our own impermanence. In these two ways, we gain understanding and make ourselves more conscious of the nature of impermanence.

I find this to be a very consoling practice. Whenever I catch myself worrying about what is going on in the world and what is happening to the earth, I meditate on impermanence in this way. It is a very effective antidote to anxiety and it brings true perspective and equanimity.