Tag: impermanence

We have had three storms pass over us in the last few days. Strong winds. In a similar way, each day contains a lot of conditioned events which pass through – a succession of little births and deaths. There is always a dialogue between these changing conditions and our underlying nature.

A monk asked, ”How can one escape from birth, old age, sickness, and death?”
Lingyun said, ”The green mountain is fundamentally unmoving, but the floating clouds pass back and forth.”

Lingyun Zhiqin, 9th Century Chan Master

The mind creates many senses of self as it pursues what it desires or responds to lacks in our environment. We often identify with these adaptations, even if they are not worth calling our self

On the journey to myself I’ve been so many people

Indigo Williams, English Poet

The rivers will return to their beginnings.
The wind will cease in its turning about.
Trees instead of budding will tend to their roots.
Old men will chase a ball, a glance in the mirror –
They are children again.
The dead will wake up, not comprehending.
Till everything that happened has unhappened.
What a relief! Breathe freely, you who have suffered much.

 Czesław Miłosz