Understanding Impermanence

Abstract

That all things are impermanent can be both obvious and difficult to accept, particularly when it comes to oneself. That we physically change and age is apparent when looking over years and decades but the minute-to-minute changes are harder to see. What happens after our death can be an interesting and heated discussion, however, the mindfulness skill is useful on the day-to-day basis to improve one’s relationship to oneself and others no matter how one considers the issue of “what’s next”. We all have a legacy based on how we interact with others and mindfulness skills will improve that. Impermanence while frightening, on the one hand, is liberating on the other as how we will live in the future is not yet determined. Neuroscience and neuroimaging are demonstrating that brain circuitry can rewire itself, called neuroplasticity. Accepting that one is impermanent may require constant reminding to both get the most out of life and recognize the potential to change and evolve. Thoughts and the sensations they produce are impermanent so that with mindfulness skills one can use this to one’s advantage by having a more quiet, alert mind and a powerful control over how one interacts with oneself, others and the world.

Note: If you are already familiar with these terms and concepts you may wish to jump to Chap. 5 or skim the next two chapters. Exactly how these are interpreted may vary from expert to expert. The purpose here is to make them sufficiently understandable so that the focus is on the skill.