Why impermanence given so much importance in Buddhism?
A monk reflecting on the impermanence of the body
Impermanence is the central feature of existence. Everything changes. Nothing stays the same. Nothing lasts. Although this may seem a trite observation, close investigation reveals how many of our thoughts, emotions, perceptions, desires and fears occur precisely because the truth of impermanence is constantly forgotten. Continually reflecting on the impermanent conditioned nature of things prevents us from getting carried away and heedless when things go well, and from getting depressed and discouraged when things go badly. In meditation, the focused mind develops insight into its own nature through observing the moment by moment rise and fall of physical and mental phenomena.
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Source:
- Without and Within – Ajahn Jayasaro
Ryokan Says
Impermanence is what everybody knows but almost nobody internalize, it is curious that if we think about death and how people relate with this concept, we realize that although everybody knows that life come into an end, almost nobody really internalize it, in other words, they live like if they would never die. Reflect on this impermanent nature of our body helps us to appreciate better the time and the present moment, we recognize what we are and in this same sense we learn to relate with things without getting too attach.
I have always believed that the wisdom we often connect with old age, not only comes from their years of experience in live, but from their beginning to have contact with the perishable nature of their bodies, and this able them to put things on perspective and recognize those moments of real importance on their life, is this internalization what allow us to have a closer contact with life and at last will help us to be more happy.
~Ryokan
