Impermanence

Impermanence is an interesting, yet simple, concept. To me, impermanence means that this which I feel now will not be what I feel for the rest of my time. Because I am sad now, does not mean I will feel this way forever. It cannot be this way forever. Just as a soul that lives a life in one form cannot live in this form for eternity, this specific form will die and rot away, and the soul will – hopefully – move along its journey to Nirvana. Nirvana is interesting because it is described not as a heaven, but as a goal. Nirvana is to be without suffering, simply. Suffering is pain, worry, anxiety, stress, anger, burdens, any of these things that we tie ourselves to like animals chained to a stake and constantly kept mere inches away from that we desire most. The terms Nirvana and impermanence do technically come from Buddhist teachings, but I would not call myself a Buddhist, just open minded.

Impermanence helps me, personally, get through tough times by reminding me that these tough times are simply one more step along a staircase – the Staircase to Nirvana, maybe? It is the lessons we learn every day, without even realizing we are learning anything important, that give impermanence it’s power to calm my nerves. Because this moment of sadness is a lesson I am learning at this very moment, soon the lesson will be over and I will be closer to my ultimate goal. Nirvana? Maybe.

My true ultimate goal is happiness.