Is there something good about impermanence?

Impermanence means that we all have the possibility to change. (The famous Buddhist yogin) Milarepa is a good example of this: in the first part of his life, he did many terrible things. After this, he practiced and achieved a state of great accomplishment. 

We need to recognize this about ourselves and we need to take responsibility for this opportunity and to strive hard to use this opportunity to improve ourselves.

His Holiness, 17th Gyalwang Karmapa
Ogyen Trinley Dorje

What is the purpose of contemplating impermanence?

Many people think that the reason for contemplating impermanence is in order to develop fear of death. But that is not why. Naturally, we all fear death. Even animals fear death.

When we meditate on impermanence, it is for the purpose of understanding that we need to embark upon and attempt to accomplish the great task of our lives without delay.

His Holiness, 17th Gyalwang Karmapa

Ogyen Trinley Dorje

Karma seems difficult to understand – what exactly is it?

Sometimes when karma is described or explained, it can seem very complicated and quite difficult to understand. Sometimes it is even said beyond our conception, indescribable, impossible to explain. I feel that karma need not be that way, it need not be so complicated and confusing. It can be very simple.

When I first landed in Frankfurt, I saw lots of trees, lots of green, and this green was kind of fresh, healthy, shiny. It is not the same in India, there are trees, but trees are dusty, unclean, and unhealthy. So I found Frankfurt green and especially nice.

Therefore, when I came, when any new person comes, we come to know, no one has to explain that someone has cared for this greenery and trees. Without explaining we can see what kind of people live in this place. That is the karma.

HH, 17^th Karmapa
Ogyen Trinley Dorje

I have done some bad things in my life, and find it difficult to change. How Buddhism can help me get past that?

There are people who may have done something very bad in their life, and because of the guilt, they live under the impression that they cannot recover from that, they will always be like that, there is no changing.

The practice and understanding of impermanence allows us to understand that we do not have to continue to allow these bad things to happen. We can start a new life, we can have a new light in our life. 

We do not need to be influenced and go on with the same storyline. We can start a new story. When we meditate properly on impermanence, we see that every moment there is an opportunity to start again. It is always possible to begin in a new, positive way.

HH, 17^th Karmapa
Ogyen Trinley Dorje

I had a difficult childhood, and I find it hard to get over that. Can Buddhism help?

There are lots of people who have bad experiences in childhood, and that left strong and negative impression on their lives. Because of that, those people have to spend all of their lives in a very miserable, sad, negative way. There are many people who have this kind of life.

The practice and understanding of impermanence allows us to understand that we do not have to continue to allow these bad things to happen. 

We can start a new life, we can have a new light in our life. 

We do not need to be influenced and go on with the same storyline. We can start a new story.

When we meditate properly on impermanence, we see that every moment there is an opportunity to start again. It is always possible to begin in a new, positive way.

HH, 17^th Karmapa
Ogyen Trinley Dorje

Impermanence gets mentioned a lot around Buddhists. How does impermanence show up in my life?

When we talk about impermanence, if we look at our lives, from childhood so many changes have taken place, in our body, in our mind. So life contains many things that have changed in our lives.

What we mean by impermanence is that things keep on changing, that things never stay the same, that is what is meant by impermanence. 

HH, 17^th Karmapa
Ogyen Trinley Dorje

Impermanence seems like a negative thing. Is there anything good about it?

This changing is not as if we are losing something because things change. 

When we think deeply about impermanence, it becomes possible to understand that this constant change that is taking place is also an opportunity for us. 

It is something that creates new options; we see that impermanence presents new opportunities for us as well.

HH, 17^th Karmapa

Ogyen Trinley Dorje

Why do we have to think about impermanence?

What we mean by impermanence is that things keep on changing. 

These changes are not something that can be stopped, they are not things we want to change, are not things that we put effort into changing. These changes naturally occur.

When we contemplate impermanence, we start to realize that this change means that moment by moment there are also opportunities, there are
limitless opportunities, continuously.

To really understand this, this is the purpose of contemplating impermanence.

HH, 17^th Karmapa

Ogyen Trinley Dorje

How can impermanence be looked at in a positive way?

Impermanence is change - one example is thinking about music – it is changing all the time. Sometimes the melody goes up, sometimes it goes down; sometimes it gets louder, sometimes it gets softer. If there were no changes and it was always the same, then music would just be a monotone. Because of impermanence, the pitch can change, so we have beautiful melodies that go up and down, get louder and softer.

Because there is change, we have the chance to experience things, see things that we have never experienced or seen before. This change represents opportunity.

His Holiness, 17th Gyalwang Karmapa

Ogyen Trinley Dorje

What are we supposed to learn or understand when we contemplate impermanence?

When the mind contemplates the thoughts that turn it to the Dharma, the first thought is of the precious human body, with its freedoms and resources, with which we can accomplish great things.  

Understanding that this body is impermanent, and meditating upon this, we achieve certainty that we have this great purpose that we need to fulfill, and that we need to embark upon it immediately.

His Holiness, 17th Gyalwang Karmapa

Ogyen Trinley Dorje

Why do Dharma teachings frequently mention having a human body?

"The recognition of pervasiveness of suffering depends upon one gaining a precious human body, with its freedoms and resources. 

And also, one must recognize the fragility and impermanence of that human body, that the human state is like a butter lamp that is running out of fuel."

His Holiness, 17th Gyalwang Karmapa
Ogyen Trinley Dorje