Questions tagged [impermanence]
Impermanence is one of the essential doctrines or three marks of existence in Buddhism. The term expresses the Buddhist notion that all of conditioned existence, without exception, is transient, or in a constant state of flux.
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3 marks of existence: conditioned vs unconditioned things?
The Wikipedia page for "the 3 marks of existence" differentiates between "conditioned things" and "unconditioned things" like so:
The three marks are:
sabbe saṅkhārā ...
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What does 'passing away of dhamma' mean in Satipatthana sutta?
Considering the definition of dhamma as given in this answer. What does it mean by '...arising and passing away of dhamma...'in the satipatthana sutta?
Also, else where I read, 'all dhamma are also ...
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What is panna? Is it permanent?
Because panna (wisdom) is the understanding of anicca, dukkha and anatta, it leads to the cessation of ignorance, greed and aversion and therefore to Nirvana. Now Nirvana or the state of being ...
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Do we perceive the whole?
According to I think all Buddhists, the whole is nothing more than its parts. I've read it claimed that, given everything is partite, nothing exists. Perhaps Being means something more than its parts, ...
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There is a conventional self, so is anything conventionally permanent?
There is a conventional self, so is anything conventionally permanent? Answer from any reputable tradition.
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How to prolong the abiding in a Brahmavihara?
Buddha has encouraged the practisioners to abide in the four Brahmaviharas.(Metta, Karuna, Mudita and Upeksha)
I have experience of Upeksha or Equianimity. After doing sitting meditation both Zazen ...
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Are the four characteristics -- production, abiding, change and destruction -- empty, conceptual constructions?
Are the four characteristics -- production, abiding, change and destruction -- empty, conceptual constructions? Does this make production etc., perhaps even impermanence, an illusion, especially ...
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Why did Buddha put so much emphasis on no-self?
Why should we care if we have no-self or have a self. Ultimately it is of no help. I know any buddhist teacher will say that feelings or body are not-self, so you shouldn't get attached to it, but ...
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I have forgotten how to live
The previous years of my life feels like a dream. I was happily living, consumed with studies, learning things, watching youtube and stuff, enjoying a lot, mind was busy in various entertaining stuffs....
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Determination and Impermanence
How can we have determination with this impermanent world, if determination is one of the paramitas?
"I will do that thing (A) whatever happens" is determination. But something else (B) can happen on ...
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Time vs Impermanence
What is the connection between time and impermanence ? Are they different terms for the same thing ? I heard this from philosopher, "Nibbana is like a timeless space".
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Buddhism broke up my marriage
The title is provocative but sums up my problem: when I am immersed in Buddhist thought, I can no longer love my wife.
Buddhism clearly contradicts romantic love. It tolerates it up to a certain ...
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How does rebirth fit with the fact that everything is impermanent?
One of the lessons Buddhism teaches is that everything is impermanent. Our thoughts, our feelings, our emotions, our bodies, our life. Everything. We are surrounded by death. We are mortals. There is ...
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Has anyone ever in the history of Buddhism claimed that the phenomenal aspect of the storehouse consciousness is also permanent?
Has anyone ever in the history of Buddhism claimed that the phenomenal aspect of the storehouse consciousness is also permanent?
I'm not asking if it's impermanent, but if it is also permanent. ...
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In Yogacara Buddhism, is discontinuity an illusion, and does change arise?
Buddhists talk about discontinuity
ordinary consciousness consists of the discrete cetas
and illusion
all is illusion and the external objects are nothing but the creations
of our mind
In ...
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How do you contemplate delight you get due to action that leads to detachment?
Let us follow the unbeaten track, the dukkha in right action.
You see a man in need, you feel compassion, wishing him well you help him with his worldly need, then you feel delighted of your action....
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Buddhism and Integrative Complexity
I noticed a coincidence between something I read in a book by Thich Nhat Hanh, and an article on research about a psychological phenomenon known to facilitate inner and outer peace. My question is: ...
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Can the change due to impermanence be considered intelligent?
What is the nature of the change due to impermanence ,is it just a random change or intelligent change ?,are the actions resulting from it considered right action or that depends on the degree of ...
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Permanent Matter?
My friend told this to me & now I am confused.
Isn't the amount of matter in the universe the same, no less, nor
more, because nothing is ever lost, nor created, everything causes everything,...
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4answers
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Buddhists advise against "me and mine" does that include times?
Buddhists advise against "me and mine" does that include times? Do Buddhists really talk about "my" future past and present?
If so, what are the nature of those times? Specifically: will "my" ...
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2answers
316 views
Can the "Senika heresy" be useful?
The Rhetoric of Immediacy: A Cultural Critique of Chan/Zen Buddhism
By Bernard Faure p60 (I've not read this book) links it to linji ("the true man without affairs")
Wiki says
In his later years ...
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1answer
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Is this an ok understanding of Dharmakirti's vināśitvānumāna?
The point is that such moment by moment destruction is spontaneous
(ākasmika) and is the uncaused real nature of things, because it
cannot be an effect of any cause. The effect of such a cause, i....
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How do you write Anicca (Impermanence) in Pali script?
I'm looking to get a tattoo and have anicca written in Pali in several places. Can you help me with how to write this in Pali script?
Thanks in advance!
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Buddhist perspective on uncertainty
I was reading some books containing an anthology of Ajahn Chah's Dhamma Talks to both laymen and monks. In the introduction of one of those books, the translator indicated that AC used to translate '...
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Buddhism after death
From what I understand the aggregates aren't self but now when a person dies and the material aggregates of his body dissolve then what remains who gets reincarnated ?.If there is no soul then what ...
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MN 137 - Directed only to Stream Entrants (and beyond)?
"And what are the six kinds of renunciation joy? The joy that arises when — experiencing the inconstancy of those very forms, their change, fading, & cessation — one sees with right discernment as ...
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Acceptance of impermanence as the right of passage to adulthood? My take on Buddha's teaching
The Buddha encouraged us to find out for ourselves whether what he was saying was true.
I say the same. Feel free to find what is true for you.
The Buddha invented a rite of passage to adult age.
...
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2answers
82 views
For what reason did Dharmakirti argue that absences are conceptual constructions?
For what reason did Dharmakirti argue that absences are conceptual constructions? I wondered if it was because real absences would have svabhava, would be essences, because they do not change in time?
...
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46 views
Is it true that everything is unconditionally changeable?
Given that except Nirvana everything is impermanent, is it true that everything is unconditionally changeable? In other words whether, given something ,isn't it true that it will change no matter ...
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Why is real magic not a good illustration to realize Truth?
Many monks achieved various levels of perfections and some were extraordinary by human standards like passing through walls , walking on water, levitating in the sky, dying then arising etc...
If ...
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5answers
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If all things are impermanent, then how can Buddhism make absolute assertions?
I had someone ask me this afternoon:
If Buddhism teaches that all things are impermanent, then how can it
make absolute assertions such as there are 5 aggregates or there
are 4 noble truths?
...
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6answers
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why can't we swap one desire for another and another?
We know that because of impermanence, that nothing is worth clinging to. But did the Buddha say any words on why we cannot swap one impermanent source of satisfaction for another, and continue doing ...
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How do I practice ' see things as they are'?
Further to the answers to this question, I want to understand what literally is 'see things as they are' or as the sutta states, Yathā-bhūta-ñāna-dassana.
My questions are,
I understand that if I ...
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4answers
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Impermanence: How do we know when a thing ends or if it's just changing?
It seems to be a big deal that we see things as they are. If we are merely assuming when things begin and end or change then how do we ever really see things as they are?
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Responsibility in Buddhism
If nothing can be considered 'myself' or 'mine', if nothing is in my complete control (take volition for example), how can people be held responsible for their thoughts, words and deeds, if they are ...
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Dispassion in Buddhism
Is something along those lines somewhere to be found in? I am aware of the drawbacks mentioned in MN.19 , but could this way of thinking, that is, the shortness of pleasure not lead to isolation/life ...
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Supposing mahayana nirvana is permanent does it have substance?
Supposing mahayana nirvana is permanent (and I believe it is called this) does it have substance? I'm just asking due to some completely trivial insights: it seems that a quality of my experience of ...
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Why must the goal be everylasting? (Anicca)
Why must someone strive for something which is everlasting, e.g. Nirvana? It is unfortunate if everything is impermanent but I think this is a mistake, a false conclusion, that you shouldn't be ...
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Is what is impermanent always the cause of suffering?
While describing Dhamma Buddha asks "Is what is impermanent suffering or happiness?" to which Ananda replies "suffering".
My question is : Is what is impermanent always the cause of suffering?
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For a non-believer, what good does realizing impermanence do?
Does a realization or just thorough understanding of impermanence, as it appears in Buddhism, benefit a non-believer in the rest of Buddhism, at all, especially not karma?
I'm not asking if they can ...
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How can the concept of Anicca be linked to Sunyata?
Sunyata is more commonly used to explain Anatta, but how about Anicca?
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Is impermance provable?
Check out my reasoning and tell me where it's flawed.
1) To know that nothing stays the same you have to have a reliable, permanent memory.
2) If memory is impermanent, then it cannot be used to ...
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3answers
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'Impermanence' during vipassana practice
Thoughts stopped when seen them. Either happy or sad feelings of mind disappears by seen them. Is this impermanence?
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What is the phantom in the conclusion of the Diamond Sutra?
This is the version I am referring to:
Thus shall ye think of this fleeting world: A star at dawn, a bubble
in a stream; A flash of lightning in a summer cloud; A flickering
lamp, a phantom, ...
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4answers
192 views
Is 'impermanence' skillful means?
Is 'impermanence' skillful means?
Wikipedia's definition of "Skillful means" says:
The implication [of skillful means] is that even if a technique, view, etc., is not ultimately "true" in the ...
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Anicca (when and how?)
The Buddha put high emphasize on Anicca and thus it shouldn't be dismissed. Now my question: When should one remind oneself of the transience of all phenomena? I doubt in every occassion.
If I for ...
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Unclarity on Sati-Sampajañña
In one Sutta the Buddha said that one should constantly be mindful of the fact of anicca. In the Satipatthana Sutta he said that when one is dressing, eating, speaking etc. one should be aware that he ...
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On Sati-Sampajanna
So if I am mindful of let's say a sensation or I am just mindful of a specific body part should I label that "event", e.g.: thinking, thinking, touching, touching, seeing, seeing?
I am asking because ...
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Impermanence (Anicca) and Mindfulness in general
Did the Buddha meant to be attentive all the time or is that just an ideal to strive for?
If we are attentive and feel sensations do we always see the impermanence in them? So first to recognize what ...
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What is the meaning of Anicca and Anatta?
Most of the English translation I read, Anatta is translated as not-self and Anicca as impermanence.
However many Sri Lankan Buddhist monks do not agree with this translation.
They say it is a miss ...
