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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Why does something being conditioned mean that it has to be impermanent? If something arose in the past, why would it mean that it can cease?
“‘All conditioned things are impermanent’ — when one sees this with wisdom, one turns away from suffering.” -The Buddha, from Dhammapada, verse 277
“Whatever has the nature of arising, all of it has ...
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Is it true that no phenomena can be ubiquitous?
Sabbe Sankhara Anicca means all conditioned phenomena are impermanent.
However , I was thinking whether any phenomena can be present everywhere even for a short span of time ?
In other words I think , ...
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What is the proper translation of 'sabbe saṅkhārā aniccā'?
In this excellent answer giving an in depth explanation of the various uses of sankhata in various suttas, the first usage is explained as 'conditioned things' based upon the famous phrase, "...
user13375
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Is a circle a form?
Nobody has ever seen a circle. Yet we all say "that is a circle" and nod in agreement. But when we say that the top of a bottle is a circle, we see the bottle top, not really the circle. The ...
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Are scientific Truths impermanent?
There are many scientific truths which seem to be absolute. For example- matter attracts matter , whether it is the matter of earth or sun or stars or dark matter etc ,they all attract each other.
How ...
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Is science a Dhamma or Sankhara or both?
I am still confused about the meaning of Dhammas. Here I take the example of science. Science has many truths. Science explains the reality in its own ways.
My question is: Can we consider Science a ...
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Who is responsible for making sankharas impermanent?
Sabbe Sankhara Anicca. But it is not clear why all Sankhara are impermanent?
Can I ask ,who is responsible for making all Sankhara impermanent?
Are we responsible for making the Sankhara impermanent?
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Which word is more suitable for describing reality?
There can be different kinds of reality. Reality as experienced by dogs, cats, elephants, lions, pigs, snakes, humans, gods, maras or reality as experienced in hell or reality as experienced in heaven ...
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Is there a tendency or an effort to keep sanskharas as it is?
Sabbe sanskharas Anicca. But is there any tendency or effort to keep sanskharas as it is for as long as possible?
I personally suspect yes because there is a craving to keep the narrative alive.
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Is Anicca, Anatta, & Dukkha a Dhamma?
Someone said that Anicca/Anatta/Dukkha are not Dhamma, it is a pannati or concept.
To clear my doubt I ask : Is Anicca/Anatta/Dukkha a Dhamma or not ?
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Is anicca impermanence &/or uncertainty?
💚I've seen teachers translate anicca as uncertainty. Is that a good translation? I mean, you can be certain when something is going to end. I'm just kind of trying to put these translations together ...
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Is there a blissful equivalent to dukkha caused by impermanence?
According to Buddhist teachings, we suffer because of the moment to moment impermanence of all experience. As I understand it, this is caused by clinging to experiences we feel positive about. But ...
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Why are Concepts not Impermanent?
Why are Concepts not Impermanent? I found the below explanation in another forum. Are they Permanent? or not both?
Conventional reality (sammuti sacca/ pannatti) is just a concept and
not real. Non-...
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Can you quickly explain "everything is impermanent"
Can you quickly explain "everything is impermanent"? Is it metaphysical or ontological claim, that nothing that "exists" will exist forever?
Or is it a claim that nothing can ...
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Does the relinquishing of views prohibit belief in the permanence of buddha nature?
Does the relinquishing of views prohibit belief in the permanence of buddha nature?
I prostrate to Gautama, who, out of loving compassion, taught the
excellent Dharma in order to relinquish all views....
user23322
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Why is continuity like "the light of a lamp"?
Because the continuity of the aggregates is similar to the light of a lamp, therefore the very existence or non-existence of an end is
unreasonable.
https://www.stephenbatchelor.org/index.php/en/...
user23322
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Is "no arising" a thing?
Is "no arising" a thing or just something we may be taught? If it's a teaching only, I guess it's used to show that something else is not the case (showing e.g. that series do end).
If it's ...
user19950
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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 ...
user20063
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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, ...
user2512
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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.
user2512
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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 ...
user2512
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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 ...
user2512
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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,...
user16793
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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" ...
user2512
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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 ...
user2512
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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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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?
...
user2512
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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 ...
user8619
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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 ...
user13135