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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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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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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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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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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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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'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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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 ...
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Are there any teachings about how we should censure happiness which arises without right view?
Please note that I’m not referring to momentary happiness from distractive actions, like narcotic or alcohol consumption: I’m referring to excessive happiness that arises, from birth of a child, or ...
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Is change permanent?
I find this an interesting question. When we say things are impermanent, we often say that it is because they constantly undergo change. But in that, do we make the assumption that change will always ...
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do all beings have past lives? [duplicate]
Is it a truth in Buddhism that all beings have past lives? How does Buddhism explain new life? For example, would the increasing amount of population be explained by some us having shared past lives?
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Is space impermanent?
I know that space is often said to be unconditioned, and it seems right to say that it is empty of svabhava.
But, is it impermanent?
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why i am unaware, not awake?
I made you read the explaination and you are trying to get what is not available! What is that and why we do this? Why we want to be awake when we are totally unaware of being awake-state?
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Pure Land Schools' version of the Three (or Four) Marks of Existence
I'd be grateful for references to some of the major Pure Land schools' versions of the Three (or Four) Marks (Seals) of Existence:
Impermanence (anicca)
Suffering (dukkha)
No-self (anattā)
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Am I “fooling” myself?
As I practice more and more on seeing life as Dukkha, something interesting happens. I feel a greater sense of gratitude and contentment.
I am not talking about seeing things as they are directly ...
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Change and decay of one's own body. How fast is it?
We all know that we get sick and get old but i have heard that "Abhidhamma" talks about a faster version of decay and change.As i have heard there is a change that is happening every fraction of a ...
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What does the Abhidhamma say about impermanence?
I understand the state of changing (impermanence) mentioned in Buddhism, but I have also heard that another more complex version (of the doctrine of impermanence) exists in the Abhidhamma.
I would ...
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Difference between “Becoming” and Anicca
To preface my question, I will add that I am very unfamiliar with Buddhism. My knowledge consists of some historical anecdotes, and I also know some of the basic tenets.
That being said, is there a ...
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Is eating an apple from a tree planted right next to a granddad's tomb not permitted? [closed]
Suppose A's granddad died many years ago and was buried in the back yard.
Right next to his tomb, grows a very fruitful apple tree. There are many delicious apples on that tree.
Is it ok to eat ...
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Does the saṅkhatalakkhaṇa of dukkha apply to the noble path?
Dukkha is usually clarified as an intrinsic characteristic of everything conditioned and to be as such a direct derivative of the characteristic of impermanence.
Does this also apply to the noble ...
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Buddhist philosophy and “events”
By "event" I mean something that happens over some interval of time.
Am I right that for Buddhists, intervals don't exist (everything lasts only for an instant): so neither do events?
If so may I ...
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What is the nature of impermanence, desire and anatman?
If everything in unstable, unsatisfying and out of control then what is the point in living? Isn't the 'point of life' meant to be a journey to stability, satisfaction and self control? Thanks :).
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Combining yoga (asanas); qigong meditation and raw vegan diet with Buddhism
Fellow travellers,
As I have experienced myself major benefits from the practicing of asanas the past two years; plus from my raw vegan diet the past three years and qigong meditation the past year; ...
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Is there a Buddhist 'noninterference' concept?
There's a stub Wikipedia article which says only,
Noninterference (Buddhism)
Noninterference is a Buddhist concept and practice which relates to the idea that all things are impermanent, with ...
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Is self enlightenment achieved through contemplation of impermanence?
Not asking for a friend, or as a plan... I started doing this some 11-14 years ago, and wondered if it was over - in any significant sense. Not that it matters - I might take the bodhisattva vows, now ...
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What is suchness (esp in Tendai or Soto)
In this thread I asked about active and passive suffering.
But I'm not quite sure what I mean.
It may help to know what suchenss is? I know it translates to "as it is"... so is that impermanence? Or ...
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Time in Buddhism
I read a couple of books on time, yet they all seemed somewhat incomplete, as if it was something simply tagged onto the rebirth / enlightenment doctrine.
How important is time in Buddhism, not ...
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Is reflecting upon a choir conducive to the path of Enlightenment?
A few years ago, I read in the introduction of a Spirituality book about this story of Gautam Buddha. I've forgotten the name of the book, but this poetry has stuck in my memory for ever. The story ...
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Does yesterday have buddha nature
I am asking because I think that if the past has buddha nature, and the dharmakaya is impermanent, then there is nothing left of the enlightened when they die.
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Impermanence is Buddha nature / Buddha nature is impermanence
Can anyone please explain these aphorism / these aphorisms?
Thank you in advance.
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Impermanence and suffering in Buddhism
I have an intuitive agreement with the idea that impermanence does mean that everything either is or ends in suffering.
But I am not sure it makes rational sense.
Can anyone explain the arguments ...
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Keeping in mind impermanence, suffering and non-self
If one doesn't know the notion of "impermanence, suffering and non-self", can one see it by one's self?
I know that I don't need to "force" myself to see impermanence: but do I need to keep in mind "...
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How can Nirvana (Nibbana) be permanent?
If everything is impermanent and this is used as a reason why Buddhists do not believe in a creator and eternal God, how can Nirvana be permanent?
Did the Buddha ever explain this point?
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Living worried about the future and reaching mindfulness
I'm going through a lot. It's very easy to be lost in thoughts and worries about the near future, and that leads me to a life of unhappiness. I also feel guilty when I fell happy, because I feel I ...
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Realigning your priorities after realizing death and impermanence
It is very common to see people realigning their priorities after a near death experience or surviving a cancer. Things like money, career, fear of the future or anxiety don't bother them as much as ...
