Understanding Impermanence: A Core Buddhist Teaching

Impermanence often gets a bad rap. Sometimes, it's associated solely with death, which we'll discuss a bit later. But more generally, people, myself included, can sometimes interpret impermanence on the Buddhist path as a rather bleak and depressing concept.

My hope here is to offer that impermanence is not only crucial for reflecting on difficult topics like the inevitable end of life, but also for things we wouldn't normally consider. In some situations, if things weren't impermanent, it would be quite detrimental! We'll explore all this in detail, but first, let's begin with a quote from the Buddha on impermanence.

There are many quotes from the Buddha on impermanence, but the one I'd like to share comes from the Dhammapada. It beautifully encapsulates the Buddhist path:

"All conditioned things are impermanent. When one sees this with wisdom, one turns away from suffering."

This quote resonates with me because it highlights the importance of both impermanence and wisdom. Reflecting on and meditating on impermanence cultivates a type of insight that fosters freedom, a cornerstone of the Buddhist path. This freedom can manifest in various ways, from increased well-being and ease in daily life to the ultimate goal of awakening or Buddhahood.

Sometimes, Buddhahood is portrayed as a transcendent state. However, in my view, Buddhahood is attainable for all of us who dedicate ourselves to uncovering our awakened nature.

Personally, I don't believe we actually "go" anywhere. We might question if we're truly here to begin with! If not here, then where? Perhaps that's venturing too far afield.

Returning to the quote on impermanence, let's delve a bit deeper into the word "suffering." I prefer the Pali term "dukkha," which is often translated as suffering, dissatisfaction, pain, or even stress.

Dukkha is a profound concept in Buddhist philosophy. It essentially states that when we seek happiness externally, when our perception is fragmented into subject and object, we experience some form of pain. This disharmony arises because it's not aligned with the true nature of reality.

This connects to the Buddhist teachings on emptiness and non-duality, which are relevant to impermanence. To fully grasp impermanence, we need to explore the concept of dukkha deeply, both through meditation and study.

Why meditate on impermanence? Why reflect on it? The Buddha points out that understanding the nature of dukkha – why it affects us, what it is, and most importantly, how to end it – is the ultimate goal.

Unfortunately, some approaches neglect this crucial aspect, leaving practitioners feeling averse to exploring their suffering. The Buddha, however, emphasized that without examining the depths of our dukkha and its origins (which stem from subtle confusion), we cannot truly alleviate it.

As I mentioned earlier, without actively working through meditation, learning, and reflecting on the Dharma, finding lasting freedom from suffering is challenging. Here's a simple example: most of us constantly jump from one experience to the next. Imagine reflecting on your day. If you're brave enough to be truly honest, you might see that most of your actions stem from either avoiding discomfort or seeking something pleasant – clinging and aversion in action. These fundamental principles keep us on a hamster wheel of reactivity, shrouded in unawareness.

In my view, Buddhist meditation is all about gaining a deeper understanding of clinging and aversion, how they arise, and how they bind us. The word "suffering" (dukkha) isn't just about bad things happening – illness, death, or unwanted emotions. It's much deeper. Impermanence actually serves as a doorway to examining dukkha. We can either use a deeper understanding of dukkha to access impermanence, or use impermanence to access dukkha more directly.

This connects to the Three Marks of Existence, or sometimes the Four Seals of Buddhism. Typically, impermanence comes first, followed by dukkha and then emptiness (Buddhist non-duality). Some add a fourth seal: Nirvana, or transcendence beyond suffering. There's a reason impermanence is placed first – it's the doorway. It's something quite evident, even with a cursory glance at life.

Now, let's get specific about impermanence. As the Buddha said, it applies to all conditioned things. If something is "conditioned," it means it arises from a combination of factors, not existing in isolation. It's influenced by other phenomena, people, and things around it. This applies to everything – our last meal, our bodies, our state of mind. All conditioned things are inherently subject to change.

Perhaps substituting "impermanence" with "change" makes it more impactful. Impermanence is a fine term, but how does it manifest in our lives? For me, it shows up as constant change. Everything is in flux. Taking it a step further, all conditioned things change because they're conditioned – not singular, independent events.

This is something we cultivate awareness of through reflection and meditation. In meditation, we delve deeper to directly witness change. Through learning and reflection, we simply familiarize ourselves with the concept, integrating it into our understanding. If this is a new idea, take it slow. It's more about questions, prompts, and profound ideas to explore our lives, rather than fixed answers.

Right now, as you read this, consider this: Is there anything that truly doesn't change? Even a seemingly permanent mountain is constantly evolving, just as this conversation unfolds. The mountain you cherish on hikes, the one you live near, or maybe just one you visited – it's changed, not only over time but even in the brief span of reading this paragraph. If a mountain can change, surely countless other things change much faster.

The question the Buddha poses is: Are we noticing this change? Are we paying attention? The Buddhist perspective highlights this because it's a key to unlocking suffering – understanding why we experience dissatisfaction, stress, and anxiety.

Through impermanence, we not only gain a clearer view of reality, but also cultivate a greater sense of flow with life itself. If everything is constantly changing, why cling so tightly? Impermanence, on a more practical level, is a key to unlocking fluidity and letting go. It allows us to prioritize what truly matters and stop wasting energy on things that don't.

This transformation happens when we bring the concept of change into meditation. Powerful ideas and philosophies can influence us, but true understanding comes from direct experience. It's the difference between hearing about something and seeing it for yourself – the impact is far greater. Of course, this takes dedicated practice on the path.

Here's a simple tip for meditating on impermanence: Turn your awareness to something specific, observing its inherent change. This could be your body, your emotions, sensations, or even the flow of thoughts in your mind. 

If that feels too advanced, simply go outside and observe nature. Watch the wind in the trees, the flow of water in a stream, or the movement of birds and animals. Everything is constantly in motion, ever-changing. This firsthand experience has a profound impact.

However, impermanence can also be challenging. We might fear acknowledging the impermanence of things we're attached to, or feel anxious about the unknown. This is completely understandable – I experience these reactions too.

In Buddhism, impermanence meditation is often linked to death and the dying process. This can be a sensitive topic, especially in modern Western culture. We tend to avoid death, lacking rituals or practices for integrating it into life. Instead, we chase after youth and avoid talking about death altogether. This avoidance is a recent development; many cultures, including Western cultures of the past, had different approaches.

If we're interested in incorporating death meditation or impermanence in relation to death, we need to acknowledge and work with our anxieties and fears. Personally, I've found this practice very beneficial. The early loss of a parent exposed me to death in a way I couldn't ignore. When I discovered practices for acknowledging impermanence, meditating on death as a form of impermanence, I embraced them.

This doesn't mean it's always easy. Working with my own mortality can be difficult. Sometimes I approach it superficially, thinking "oh yeah, acceptance, blah blah blah." But when reality hits – a doctor's test with uncertain results – that's when the rubber meets the road. This is when our meditation on mortality truly matters.

It's not about morbidness or pessimism. It's about living life more fully, appreciating each precious moment in the ever-flowing river of change.

For over two decades now, I've been incorporating meditation on death and impermanence into my practice. It's been a gradual process, but it's truly helped me live with a greater sense of purpose. Knowing that my time here is finite reframes the very question of life's meaning. Some might respond by saying it's about maximizing pleasure, living life to the fullest. While that's understandable, I don't believe that aligns with the Buddhist perspective. Hedonism, as it's called, is simply another form of clinging, and clinging, in my experience, offers fleeting happiness at best.

The Buddhist teachings go much deeper. The core message, as I see it, is about alleviating suffering. Whether you accept this teaching is entirely up to you, but for me, it resonates deeply. The Buddha wasn't presenting religious dogma; he was offering a path towards less suffering.

This perspective also leads to a different understanding of death. In Buddhism, death is viewed as a transition, not an ending. Consider this analogy: imagine someone who receives sound financial education at a young age. Through careful planning and investing, they're able to retire early, transitioning from a life of long work hours to one of leisure. Similarly, from a Buddhist perspective, we prepare for the transition of death. Our mind, understood as non-physical, continues in another form. This allows us to continue practicing the path, cultivating compassion and wisdom to benefit others.

While I'm not suggesting you adopt these beliefs – I don't know your background or practice – I do offer them as food for thought. The key point here is how meditating on impermanence, including reflecting on our inevitable departure from this body, motivates us to use our time wisely. It's not about a reckless YOLO mentality; it's about making the most of our precious and finite time in this form.

For me, looking at death and impermanence has incredibly positive outcomes. These practices are directly connected to the broader Buddhist path of cultivating loving-kindness, compassion, and the wisdom of non-duality.

I hope these ideas on reflecting on impermanence and its importance have been helpful. Feel free to reach out with any questions, comments, or if you simply need support in your practice. I'm here to help in any way I can. Thank you.