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