| This article is about one of the key concepts | | | | The younger brother was curious as to why the |
| of Buddhism, | | | | father had preservedthe silver ring, which |
| | | | had very little value. He took out the |
| Impermanence. | | | | ringand examined it. One the ring was written |
| | | | the words "This too willpass". The younger |
| Vipassana meditation as taught by Mr. S N | | | | brother said "Oh this was the motto of my |
| Goenka stresseson the experience of | | | | father |
| impermanence within our own bodies toattain | | | | |
| Nirvana the state beyond suffering. | | | | This too will pass. He replaced the ring on |
| According to | | | | his finger. |
| | | | |
| Sayagyi U Ba Khin, Mr. Goenka's Guru The | | | | Time passed. Both brothers went through the |
| awareness of Aniccais the actual meditational | | | | ups and downs of life. |
| experience of impermanence withinour own | | | | |
| bodies. . This is a purification process, | | | | The elder brother used to get highly |
| which leadsthe meditator to experience the | | | | delighted when spring came andhe was |
| nirvanic peace within himself. | | | | prosperous. He lost his balance and developed |
| | | | greed andattachment. When the good phase went |
| Impermanence is central to Buddhism, and in | | | | away and winter approached hebecame highly |
| fact can be made thecentral point of anyone's | | | | anxious. He needed to medication and sleeping |
| personal philosophy as he or she goesthrough | | | | pillsto be able to sleep. When that did not |
| life. If we take the time to think - the | | | | help he completely lost hisbalance. He needed |
| world that weknow is impermanent. In fact we | | | | visits to the psychiatrist and electric |
| ourselves are impermanent. We arenot the same | | | | shocktreatments. This was the brother with |
| persons that we were 20 years back. All the | | | | the diamond ring. |
| cells in ourbody, our appearance, our | | | | |
| personality, our feelings and emotions, | | | | The younger brother when spring came, enjoyed |
| ourproblems all have changed. Thich Naht Hanh | | | | it but remembered hisfather's motto This too |
| - the Zen Buddhist master -encourages us to | | | | will change. He did not get attached tohis |
| think of ourselves as waves in the ocean. | | | | circumstances but enjoyed them while they |
| Thechief characteristic of a waves is its | | | | lasted. When springpassed he said to himself |
| transitory nature - it lastsbut a moment and | | | | It was inevitably going to pass and nowit has |
| so do we. We will all die one day and then it | | | | done so. So what? Similarly when winter |
| willbe as if we had never existed. | | | | approached andcircumstances became bad he did |
| | | | not become agitated but remembered |
| The importance of impermanence - anicca - and | | | | |
| how it can beintegrated within our lives is | | | | - This too will pass. Thus he was able to |
| illustrated by the following story: - | | | | preserve his sense ofbalance through all the |
| | | | ups and downs of life and lived his life |
| A rich old man died leaving two sons. They | | | | happily. |
| decided to separatedividing all the | | | | |
| properties between themselves fifty fifty. | | | | The Buddha himself said once: - |
| | | | |
| After all the matters related to property | | | | When faced with all the ups and downs of |
| were settled the twobrothers came across a | | | | life, |
| small packet carefully hidden by thefather. | | | | |
| The packet contained two rings one was an | | | | Still the mind remains unshaken, |
| expensivediamond ring and the other was an | | | | |
| ordinary silver ring costingonly a few | | | | Not lamenting, not generating defilements, |
| rupees. | | | | always feeling secure, |
| | | | |
| Seeing the diamond ring the elder brother | | | | This is the greatest happiness. |
| developed greed anddesired the ring for | | | | |
| himself. He explained to the youngerbrother | | | | All of us would do well to remember this |
| This packet is obviously a family heirloom | | | | lesson and apply it so as tolead a happy |
| and notpart of the joint family property. Our | | | | life. |
| father evidently desiredthe diamond ring to | | | | |
| be passed on from generation to generationand | | | | For more such meaningful articles straight to |
| stay within the family. Being the elder | | | | your email box sign up for the free |
| brother I will takethe diamond ring. You had | | | | newsletter at |
| better take the silver one. | | | | |
| | | | The techniques and concepts here will |
| The younger brother smiled and agreed. | | | | transform your life. |
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