Photo by Carol Chapman
Occupy Sanity Tool: Impermanence
As with the majority of humans I want experiences that bring me pleasure to be permanent and those that bring me pain to not only be brief but definitely impermanent. As Thich Nhat Hahn notes: “It is not impermanence that makes us suffer. What makes us suffer is wanting things to be permanent when they are not.”
The implication is clear: I’m creating my own suffering when I stay attached to any experience because life itself is impermanent.
Nature gives us one of the best examples of this. Just look at the seasons. It’s a cycle of birth, growth, death, and dormancy…again and again. It’s what sustains life on the planet. Buddha is quoted as saying “Thanks to impermanence, everything is possible.” Indeed…life wouldn’t continue without this cycle.
Try out this OS Tool anytime that you find yourself longing for an experience or situation to end. Even when you are doing all you can to improve your mind, body and soul; you may lose HOPE while waiting for change to come. If that happens take a few deep breaths, think that impermanence is part of the life and use this acronym: Hold On. Pain Ends. Repeat as necessary.
We welcome your comments. Please share your experience in the comments section below.
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