This too shall pass

This article is about one of the key concepts oftakethe 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 GoenkaThe younger brother was curious as to why the
stresseson the experience of impermanence withinfather had preservedthe silver ring, which had very
our own bodies toattain Nirvana the state beyondlittle value. He took out the ringand examined it. One
suffering. According tothe ring was written the words "This too willpass".
Sayagyi U Ba Khin, Mr. Goenka's Guru The awarenessThe younger brother said "Oh this was the motto of
of Aniccais the actual meditational experience ofmy father
impermanence withinour own bodies. . This is aThis too will pass. He replaced the ring on his finger.
purification process, which leadsthe meditator toTime 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 canThe elder brother used to get highly delighted when
be made thecentral point of anyone's personalspring came andhe was prosperous. He lost his
philosophy as he or she goesthrough life. If we takebalance and developed greed andattachment. When
the time to think - the world that weknow isthe 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 20and 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 - theThis was the brother with the diamond ring.
Zen Buddhist master -encourages us to think ofThe younger brother when spring came, enjoyed it
ourselves as waves in the ocean. Thechiefbut remembered hisfather's motto This too will
characteristic of a waves is its transitory nature - itchange. He did not get attached tohis circumstances
lastsbut a moment and so do we. We will all die onebut 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 howgoing to pass and nowit has done so. So what?
it can beintegrated within our lives is illustrated by theSimilarly when winter approached andcircumstances
following story: -became bad he did not become agitated but
A rich old man died leaving two sons. They decidedremembered
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 wereand lived his life happily.
settled the twobrothers came across a small packetThe Buddha himself said once: -
carefully hidden by thefather. The packet containedWhen faced with all the ups and downs of life,
two rings one was an expensivediamond ring and theStill the mind remains unshaken,
other was an ordinary silver ring costingonly a fewNot lamenting, not generating defilements, always
rupees.feeling secure,
Seeing the diamond ring the elder brother developedThis is the greatest happiness.
greed anddesired the ring for himself. He explained toAll of us would do well to remember this lesson and
the youngerbrother This packet is obviously a familyapply it so as tolead a happy life.
heirloom and notpart of the joint family property. OurFor more such meaningful articles straight to your
father evidently desiredthe diamond ring to beemail box sign up for the free newsletter at
passed on from generation to generationand stayThe techniques and concepts here will transform
within the family. Being the elder brother I willyour life.