Change Is The Universal Law

After a long delay, we finally have some words of wisdom from Lama Surya Das once again.

This one is about the insight of impermanence – that change is the universal law.

We all know that everything must change, but we go on living as if we will live forever. We resist change and this is an open sore for our suffering.

When we realize the teaching of impermanence, we learn to accept life just as it is. We recognize that without impermanence, our children could never grow up. They could never go to school, college, or get a job. They would not even be able to get married and have children of their own.

Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh says, “Long live impermanence!”

“Change is universal law, and we are all changing. Yet too many of us are still dragging our heels and resisting incremental change, while the world around us is changing exponentially. We are increasingly interconnected, and yet still maintain a mentally of fragmentation and isolationist egotism.  It seems that advanced technologies can help solve more problems now, and faster. This is an age of social mobility and choices–the choice to speak up and participate, the choice to make a change, the choice to be a leader. I am far more interested in inculcating leadership than followership among my students and truth-seekers. Tie around your own head the leash that leads from the tip of your nose.”

Eckhart Tolle says, “Even the Sun Will Die!” The sun was born 4.6 billion years ago out of the remains of the explosion of a supernovae in this region of space. In another 4 or 5 billion years, it will become a “jolly red giant,” and swallow up all the inner planets, including Mercury, Venus, and Earth. Don’t worry, we’ll be long gone by then.

What are your feelings about impermanence? Have you learned to live with the fact that change is the universal law? Please share.

This is a great recording.
I’ve enjoyed listening to it.