Change is an inescapable aspect of life. Through this meditation you will learn the importance of impermanence and come to appreciate it, rather than fear it. Furthermore, meditating on impermanence can improve the quality of your life.
Most of us live our lives according to a set of rules that are created by society. Let’s call those unwritten rules “the routine”. We wake up, have a cup of coffee, and go to work. We chase opportunities, meet with other people; we consume products and earn money. We are constantly directed to the outside world and are told that this external world is where we will find and fulfil our needs.
It is ironic that some of us unconsciously chase the interests of others while our own dreams remain unfulfilled. This is the state of being truly lost in the world and swallowed by its demands. Although we are all aware of our own mortality, it rarely occurs to us that our time on Earth is limited and we will not get a second chance to live our life as we truly want. However, this knowledge isn’t intended to scare us; our impermanence and fragility should remind us of the values of life.
Impermanence is the natural state of existence. It belongs to the natural cycle of creation and destruction, and our body and mind are no exception from this universal law. In other words, all things are submitted to change.
Change and Impermanence
Change and impermanence represent the core of nature. Everything is forever changing. From life comes death, and from death comes flourishing new life. The constant flux of the universe inevitably moves us and everything else.
It is important to emphasize that there is no such thing as the ultimate destruction of things – all things remain in the eternal flow of the universe. Where one sees destruction, a Stoic sees the transformation of matter. This is brilliantly demonstrated by the Roman Emperor and Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius, who used metaphor to describe existence as a river in ceaseless flow.
“Think often on the swiftness with which the things that exist and that are coming into existence are swept past us and carried out of sight. For all substance is as a river in ceaseless flow, its activities ever changing and its causes subject to countless variations, and scarcely anything stable.”
Marcus Aurelius
Preoccupied by our place in the world, needs and desires, we are forgetting that our lives and the lives of those we love are not permanent. That is the reason why the loss of things is often painful, and the loss of loved ones is devastating and sometimes unbearable. The purpose of Stoicism is to prepare you for the loss you will inevitably experience. Our magnitude of shock can be reduced if we prepare ourselves for loss and learn to accept it as unavoidable. Reminding yourself of impermanence can also help you take back life into your own hands.
It is relevant to mention the Latin phrase “memento mori” (remember you must die). Bear in mind that this is not an existential lament. In fact, it has two important roles:
- To reduce the impact of emotions when you lose something you hold dear.
- To help you value your life and wellbeing, as they will end in time.
Therefore, memento mori is both a reminder and an antidote.
Meditation – Remind Yourself of Impermanence
Now that we understand the matter of impermanence in theory, I would like to introduce a challenge or task for you to implement this principle into your life. The goal of this challenge is to help you build a resistance to suffering that coincides with the impermanence of things. By improving your mindset, you will be able to handle the changes that are coming to your life, because you will be mentally prepared for them.
First, take some time for yourself. Ensure that you are alone and won’t be interrupted, and get ready for meditation. An ideal place for this meditation is near a calm body of water, because it can help you visualize the nature of inevitable change.
Think of the change you have already experienced within yourself and your life. You will see how many things have passed through your life, and notice some changes that were hardly perceptible at the time. Even negative events are vital, because every change has made you the person you are now.
Take a look into your mind and think of all things you thought of as necessary. Looking back, how many of those were truly necessary? It’s exactly the same for “necessary” things in your life right now. What would you do if you lose them tomorrow? Can you imagine your response?
“Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now, take what’s left and live it properly. What doesn’t transmit light creates its own darkness.”
Marcus Aurelius
Finally, remind yourself of death. Imagine you will die tomorrow. You don’t have to think about the circumstances of your death in excruciating detail; simply imagine the impact it would have on the life you imagined. Now, ask yourself what are your deepest regrets? If you had more time, what would you like to change about yourself and the world? Would you be more driven to accomplish something today, rather than putting it off until it is too late?
