![]() There is a very simple pattern to recognize in things which are born/created. The Conditioned World – the World of Compounded Things ![]() But because this deathless realm of Nirvana does exist, therefore we can escape old age, sickness and death. Now if this deathless, unconditioned realm didn’t exist, then there would be no escape from the ravages of old age, sickness and death. There is also a realm where things are not born and so, they do not die – a deathless realm.There is the realm where things are born and die – having been born, they have to die at some stage.But because the unconditioned exists, therefore escape from the conditioned is possible. If the unconditioned didn’t exist, then escape from the conditioned would NOT be possible. In the Udana 8.3 (3), the Buddha declared this: ![]() So why is it that, even though the Buddha’s body died, did he say that he found something eternal? To answer this, one needs to understand the conditioned vs the unconditioned – the ephemeral vs the eternal. He had found something that was deathless – something that was eternal. Why did the Buddha initially leave his riches and family behind in the royal palace and set off on his quest?īecause he wanted to find the answer to the big question – is there a solution, is there an escape from old age, sickness and death? When the Buddha opened his enlightenment, he had found the answer – freedom over birth and death. Now usually, in everyday life, this is all we know – the conditioned world. It’s important to recognize this because this pattern applies to ALL of the conditioned world – it applies to everything in the compounded world – the world where things are created, where things are born. Anything that is born will eventually dieĪll of these examples illustrate the same pattern – the pattern of impermanence – the pattern that ALL conditioned things undergo during their life cycle – all that arises, ceases.Anything that comes together will someday, eventually fall apart.Anything that is produced will someday get extinguished. ![]() Anything that undergoes integration will someday undergo dis-integration.All that is formed will eventually undergo breakup of that formation.All that is compounded will eventually undergo dissolution.All that is created will eventually be destroyed.It is anything that is born, anything that is created, anything that is compounded, anything that is formed. Having been arisen, they eventually cease.īringing them to an end is true happiness. They are of the nature to arise and fall. Impermanent, alas, are all compounded things, For example, this verse of Dhammapada 277 is often chanted at funerals in the Theravada Buddhist Tradition: He did NOT say that absolutely everything is impermanent – what the Buddha DID say was all “conditioned/compounded” things are impermanent. These days, you’ll see Buddhists nearly everywhere saying, “Impermanence – absolutely everything is impermanent! That’s Buddhism! That’s what the Buddha taught!” as if the Buddha proclaimed that as a permanent truth! But if you look back into the Suttas/Sutras you will find 1 important distinction that the Buddha made. You will also understand how impermanence is only half of the story – there is the other, more important half that most Buddhists may not even have heard of, let alone understand. If you can understand BOTH of these things, it will give you an excellent foundation to understanding the Buddha’s teaching.īecause it will tell you why the Buddha taught impermanence. The world of the 5 Turbidities - the Buddha in the Shurangama SutraĪn easy way to understand Buddhism, is to see that the Buddha divided existence into 2 realms:.Your job is just to recite Buddho over and over again in your mind - Ajahn Sao.The Great Compassion Mantra in Sanskrit.The Principle of Reciting the Holy Name of Gwan Yin Bodhisattva.The 4 Types of Good Friends - The Sigalovada Sutta by the Buddha. ![]()
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