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Moving from the fear of impermanence (aka dying) to the joy of creating life.
We begin with a Buddhist perspective
Our Buddhist friends often meditate on the concept of impermanence — all things will end. Yes, we are all going to die. Our loved ones will all one day be gone. For some, that sums up impermanence. It doesn’t get much darker than that. However, that is not the final word on impermanence.
Impermanence also means change, growth, and vitality.
From our starting perspective impermanence seems to have a passive tone attached to it. Things simply are just going to happen to us.
Lines from the serenity prayer(often attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi, but actually written by Dr. Reinhold Niebuhr, of the Union Theological Seminary, New York City, in about 1932 ) come to mind.
God, grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change…
Courage to change the things I can,
And Wisdom to know the difference
Dr. Reinhold Niebuhr , Union Theological Seminary 1932
Or as Country Joe McDonald puts it;
“well there ain’t no time to wonder Why whoopee! we’re all gonna die…”
That is one perspective: things are going to happen. Nothing lasts forever.
But maybe change is richer than that.
If we look at individual moments, we see good times and not so good times changing into each other — always changing.
I have read that Caesar once was looking for a saying that would apply to both good and bad times. He chose “This too shall pass”.
The story goes that he had a slave sitting on the floor of his chariot repeating the phrase when he was in his darkest moments and when he was at the height of his glory. “ This too shall pass”
(The old joke goes on to say “It may pass like a kidney stone, but it will pass”.)
In bad times it is comforting to know that whatever we are feeling will eventually change.
For most of us though, it is losing the good times that we fear. Our Buddhist friends use the word “suffering” to describe the feeling. They say that suffering is a result of attachment to something impermanent.
Yet, it is in the knowing that all things will eventually go away, that we see we have to cherish the moments we have.
Take a glass of water partially filled. This is all the water you are going to get. You can do what you want with the water — drink it, save it, share it. Every day there is a little less. The growing empty space begins to redefine how precious the remaining water is.
Do we want to waste even one drop to feed our petty need to be right or fragile ego? Do you want to waste one drop on judgment?
In knowing that all things will end, we learn to see our loved ones differently — with more kindness — more patience — more loving.
We see the abundant gifts this life has to offer, and we appreciate life more. Sunsets become special. Moonlit walks are remembered. Gratitude for everything this life has to offer becomes a constant.
AND, if we sit with impermanence for a while longer, it begins to morph even more. Another side begins to emerge.
Change is the source of all the mysteries and the wonders of our life.
The fact that the cosmos has evolved/changed over eons, that the earth took billions of years to form, that seeds become plants, that all living things grow and change, that we change and grow, that our world is rich in a variety of life forms, are simply amazing.
Without impermanence, none of this would exist.
Without impermanence, there would be stagnation. Nothing would move, nothing would change, and nothing would grow.
Without impermanence, we would not be here. Our loved ones would not be here. There would be no life.
Continuing that line of thought. Change allows for newness, for creativity. Whether it is music, food, art, movies, books, whatever brings you a sense of connection is there because of change.
Change itself becomes a beautiful thing.
Change is part of the flow of the universe. We are part of that same flow, and if we allow that flow to be a conscious part of our lives, amazing things can happen.
Feel the artistry moving through and be silent
Rumi
You have the Innate ability to allow the Well Being of the Universe to flow steadily and unrestricted into your experience -This is the art of Allowing –
Jerry and Ester Hicks in Ask and It Shall be Given
You can play a role in your own growth
Now here is the kicker: Not only is change in your life inevitable, you can play a conscious role in how that change shapes your life, your growth.
We can develop other habits
Jon Kabat-Zinn
You live in an eternally expanding environment. Expansion is a given. It is just ever so much more satisfying for you to consciously and deliberately participate in your own expansion
Esther and Jerry Hicks
You alone can prepare the ground of your being for the experience of living the mystery. (And the mystery itself is the doorway to all understanding.)
Wayne Dyer
Nice words How do you do it?
#1. Stop and just be still — even for a few moments. Let yourself see who you really are. Let yourself breathe in your essence.
#2. Let go Let go of whatever is causing you angst. Let go of your worries. Let go of judgement.
#3 Open Up
In my journal I wrote:
My mind is easily captured by the noise of what is happening. My challenge is to find my starting point and be open to what may come next. I sit in anticipation and trust. That is all I can do.
It is the conscious decision to release with full acceptance into the stream of present moments as they are unfolding.
Jon Kabat-Zinn
Cultivate the practice of being in the mystery and allowing it to flow through you unimpeded.
Wayne Dyer
#4 Observe, feel, try out new perspectives, experiment.
It takes time — quiet time, that you have to carve out of your busy day. Maybe it means getting up a half hour early. (We are talking about enhancing your life, beyond your imagination, making you part of your own evolution. Seems like a fair exchange for a half hour of sleep. :) )
#5 Sit with the new feeling of what you want to experience.
Remember though you cannot go from where you are to someplace far away without taking a lot of steps. Just focus on the next step. One step at a time. Jerry and Esther Hicks in Ask and It Shall be Given provide specific ways to advance from one stage to another along one’s growth path.
The path doesn’t already exist, we create it moment by moment. It is an evolution of our experience. The source of wisdom is whatever is happening to us at this instant. We can aspire to be kinder, more at home right now, sowing the seed of loving kindness toward every moment.
Pema Chodron:
#6 Manifest a life that brings you joy.
Know that what you think will be is most likely different than what it will be.
Part of the journey is in the mystery. Trust.
My experience has been that something better than anticipated always shows up.
Hold on this is going to be quite the ride! You are reconnecting with Source. You are becoming who you are meant to be.
The big question is whether you are going to be able to say a hearty yes to your adventure.
Joseph Campbell
I look forward to reading how it is going.
Dave
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