Today we're going to be talking about impermanence.
When we discuss this topic,
We're not simply saying,
One day we're going to die.
That would be a very negative way to look at things.
Of course,
We all know that this life is not forever.
Some of you may still hold out hope that you can one day upload your consciousness into a system and live forever.
Does that hope really lead to a better life here and now?
Most likely not.
Every day we hold on to things,
Emotions,
Feelings,
Attachment,
People.
My goal today is to help remind you that these things are forever changing.
These moments are fleeting from second to second.
Becoming overly attached to your feelings,
Even the good ones,
Can lead to suffering in the end,
Simply because of their impermanence.
That's not to say that you shouldn't be happy about things,
But you should not depend on these things for your happiness.
We will not always be here.
So let's begin now as we normally do,
Finding a comfortable position,
However that is for you.
Take a second,
Bring your attention to your breath.
Don't follow any thoughts,
Don't chase anything.
Simply focus on the in and the out breath from one moment to the next.
Now we're focused on the breath,
Bring your attention to the impermanence of even your breath.
The one thing that every meditator focuses on or is at least aware of at one point in their life,
The so-called constant,
Is also impermanent.
Every breath that you take is a new breath than the one before it,
And a separate breath from the one that comes next,
Constantly changing.
Examine your body now.
With each breath,
Bring your attention to the knowledge that although you are one body,
You are made up of multiple parts,
Each one different,
Changing from moment to moment.
Your cells,
Your skin,
Your blood flowing,
Your energy,
Constantly changing.
New cells are coming into existence and old cells dying in every moment.
Simply take a moment and try to bring it to your attention that your body is always changing from every moment.
Let's look at our inner self now,
Meaning your mind.
Just for a few minutes,
Let's sit here and recognize how quickly our minds change.
How fast new thoughts come and go,
Even when you don't want them to,
Even when you focus on keeping your mind still and relaxed.
Follow your thoughts,
Don't suppress them.
Just notice them as they come and see how many,
If any,
Come up.
Your mind is like a very busy train or bus station.
In just the past few moments alone,
Many trains of thought passed through.
Sometimes it's important to just be a passenger waiting for the right train to come and watching the others pass by.
Bring your attention now to everything around you.
Your cushion,
Your chair,
Your floor,
Your possessions,
The things in your house or the area you are in.
They may be beautiful and helpful now,
But one day you need to realize they too will grow old.
Nothing is permanent.
This is not a bad thing,
It's just the way things are.
Imagine some of your so-called prized possessions in 20,
30,
Even 50 years.
Imagine what they will look like.
Will they still be as useful then as they are now?
Do you believe you will be sad to lose these things or would you have moved on to newer and better things which will inevitably meet the same fate?
Bring your attention now to the people and the friendships or enemies that you know.
Really focus on this.
A practice that I use often is to imagine someone I love or someone I may not even like in a hundred years where they will be.
Most likely both myself and them will cease to exist,
So to speak.
When you think of that,
The anger,
Frustration that you feel towards them or the reaction that someone gets out of you with something they say,
Is it really that important?
Or is the most important thing to be happy that both of you exist in this current moment?
Be happy that you are with them or you get to experience them at all.
When you find yourself in stressful situations with other people,
Do your best to remind yourself in the moment to focus on your breath and remember that one day neither of you will be here anymore.
In this moment is a time of celebration rather than frustration and anger.
Over the course of this past ten minutes,
Our mind has gone through a multitude of changes.
Fertilism,
Happiness,
Realization,
Forgetfulness and whatever you can think of.
Your mind has changed hundreds of times.
Reflecting on that,
It's easy to see that even our current situations will one day change as well as they always have.
And for good or for bad,
It is important not to cling to things which are always subject to change.
You should enjoy the moments that you do have and let go of the ones which bring you no value because before you know it,
That moment will have passed.
Take a few moments now to contemplate your impermanence.
Whatever comes to your mind,
Just notice it and see how it will or has already changed many times before.
When you're ready,
Bring your attention back to your breath.
Focus on your breathing and open your eyes.
Singular
