Buddhist Practice: Day 14 - Impermanence Day (Special Episode & Series)

Day 14:  Impermanence Day

"When death comes, neither parents, children, nor kin can protect one." ~ The Buddha (Dhammapada 288)

After 14 days, you are finally here: “Impermanence Day”. Everything ends, and nothing lasts forever. But also, nothing is ever truly gone. Yesterday (and throughout the 14 days) we were reciting the Five Remembrances which is a tool to help us recognize impermanence. When we accept impermanence, we can live naturally in our world free of the three fires for their fuel is now truly gone. They cannot feed on someone’s mind who understands the true nature of impermanence.

Depending on your situation, day 14 is the last day of quarantine or self-isolation. But it also may not be the end as there could be a recovery period, more testing, or even other challenges unknown at this time. Yet, everything ends. COVID-19 pandemic will eventually “end” (or go in cycles, as nobody knows the true course of this virus yet) just like other pandemics in history. While we also will “end” one day, due to impermanence, it is not the end of us.

The karma we generate continues, even if we do not, to start a new cycle. You have the power to create wholesome karma, and isn’t that a wonderful thing? While you may have some unwholesome karma in ‘you’, that does not mean you cannot water it down like a speck of salt in a large swimming pool full of wholesome karma. For impermanence day, look at it as the end of your 14 days of ‘basic’ training, that will lead you to a deeper desire to create right action.

Focus

What have I learned over the past 14 days? 

What is my greatest fear? Has Buddhist teachings provided me a path to understanding it? 

What can I do to help others? 

What can impermanence tell me about my life, others, and things like a pandemic? Am I more afraid of a viral pandemic now after understanding impermanence, and the Eightfold Path? Why or why not?

Practice

Your practice does not end today. Use what you have learned and continue to:  1) Recite the Five Remembrances.  2) Meditate.  3) Find a teacher, temple, group so you can grow in practice. 

If you can end your time at home today, now is the time to “return to the market”. Enter the world at least slightly more transformed than when you left it and desire to make it a better place not just for you, but for all sentient beings.

Free 14 Day Buddhist Planner for Buddhists:  https://gum.co/BuddhistPlannerCOVID

View all 14 days on YouTube: https://youtu.be/BxlqwF6P6GE

More on Alan Peto: https://alanpeto.com/about

More on Sanathavihari Bhikkhu: https://www.casadebhavana.com/

#Buddhism #BuddhistTeachings #Dharma #Buddhist #COVID #COVID19 #buddhistwisdom #Buddhists #buddhismteachings

---

Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/alanpeto/message