Welcome,
And I hope that each one of you will come to find peace within yourself.
Today I'm going to talk about the concept of impermanence,
And this meditation is based on a live session I did recently.
Since I was about 12,
I knew and used the expression,
The only thing constant is change.
And I knew that the phrase was coined by the Greek philosopher Heraclitus.
The concept of impermanence is central to many philosophical and spiritual traditions,
Including Buddhism and Hinduism.
It teaches us that everything in life is transient and constantly changing,
And this understanding can be both humbling and liberating.
Impermanence reminds us to appreciate the present moment,
Knowing that it won't last forever.
It also encourages us to let go of attachments and to embrace change as a natural part of life.
And by accepting impermanence,
We can reduce our suffering and find peace in the midst of life's ups and downs.
In your journey of mindfulness and self-improvement,
Reflecting on impermanence can help you to stay grounded and in the present moment,
And it can also foster a deeper sense of gratitude for the experiences and the people in your life.
Close your eyes now,
And let's start to get in touch with our breath.
It doesn't matter if you're sitting,
Standing,
Or lying down.
The only thing that matters when we meditate is that you're comfortable and alert.
Now first,
Let's scan our body as we begin to relax.
Relax your face,
Unfurl your brow,
And unclench your jaw.
Relax your neck and your shoulders.
Those are common places of tension in our world today.
Relax your arms and your hands,
And let go of any tension in your chest and belly.
And as you start to relax,
Feel yourself getting heavier with each and every breath.
Relax your legs and your feet.
And as you begin to relax,
Let's start to focus even more on our breath.
Our breath is like a river as it flows in and flows out.
Just inhale slowly and gently exhale.
Notice the breath.
Notice where you feel it,
A cool sensation in your nose as the breath flows in,
Or the movement of your chest and belly as the breath flows in and flows out.
All the while we're just breathing in and breathing out,
One breath at a time.
One of my early meditations,
Number 14 I believe it was,
Dealt with dealing with time.
And in that meditation,
I referenced a song by Tim McGraw.
And the title of the song is Live Like You Were Dying.
And in the song he said,
I went skydiving,
I went Rocky Mountain climbing,
And I did 2.
7 seconds on a bull named Fu Manchu.
And it's about a man who's been told he's only got a month to live.
Now I ask you for just a moment to think about how your life would change if you were given one month to live.
If you knew that in 30 days your life would be over,
What would you do differently?
How would you look at others around you in a different light?
What things would you want to do?
What would you prioritize?
It alters the way you look at things.
Here's a quote I really like from the Thai Buddhist monk Anjan Cha.
And he said,
One day some people came to the master and asked,
How can you be happy in a world of such impermanence where you cannot protect your loved ones from harm,
Illness or death?
The master held up a glass and said,
Someone gave me this glass.
It holds my water admirably,
And it glistens in the sunlight.
When I touch it,
It rings.
One day the wind may blow it off the shelf,
Or my elbow may knock it from the table.
I know this glass is already broken,
So I enjoy it incredibly.
Now here I'm going to pause so you can just breathe and think,
And I'll be back in a minute.
Now just continue to follow your breath and relax further and listen to my voice.
Everything from the smallest particle to the biggest galaxy is subject to change and decay.
Impermanence is a universal truth that applies to all aspects of existence.
The cycle of change is constant and ongoing.
Things are born,
Grow,
Age,
Decay and eventually die.
Attachment to impermanent things just leads to suffering.
When we cling to the idea that things will always be the way they are,
We can experience disappointment and pain when they do change.
When you accept the impermanent nature of life,
It can lead you to a sense of peace and tranquility.
And by understanding that change is inevitable,
We can learn to let go of our attachments and embrace the present moment.
Some examples of impermanence.
The seasons change throughout the year.
Summer gives way to autumn,
Autumn to winter,
Winter to spring.
Humans,
We're born,
We grow,
We age and eventually we die.
And our bodies and minds are constantly changing.
Relationships can change over time.
People come into our lives and then they leave.
And all of our material possessions can be lost,
Stolen or damaged.
They are not permanent.
Here I'll take a break for a moment and let you just breathe and think and I'll be back in a minute.
Understanding impermanence can be a powerful tool for your own personal growth and spiritual development.
When you recognize that everything is subject to change,
You can cultivate a more mindful and accepting attitude towards life.
As I said in the live session,
When you accept fully the idea that everything changes,
Everything dies,
Everything is transient,
It makes your life more full.
When you can let go of possessions and other attachments,
It makes your life full.
Now as we come to a close,
Open your eyes and come back into the room.
Wiggle your fingers and toes and stretch and feel how good it is to be alive,
How good it is to be in this moment.
I want to thank each and every one of you for taking time to join me in this moment.
You've heard me say it before,
But time is our most valuable commodity and I'm honored that you invested some of your time with me.
I hope this has been a beneficial and calming session.
Till next time!
