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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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....
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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/...
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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 ...
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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 ...
Omar Boshra's user avatar
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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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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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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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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!
Ari Cuadra's user avatar
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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? ...
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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 ...
Dheeraj Verma's user avatar
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5 answers
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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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4 answers
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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 ...
Val's user avatar
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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 ...
Val's user avatar
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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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4 answers
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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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3 answers
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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 ...
Jimmy Widdle's user avatar
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3 answers
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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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