Among a hundred types of contemplation, impermanence is the foremost.
The Buddha opened the teachings by first discussing impermanence. Why is that? Impermanence is known to all ordinary beings and externalists, as well as to all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Impermanence is the gateway to the Buddhist path; to enter the Buddhist path, one must first contemplate impermanence. Those who can deeply contemplate impermanence can enter the room of the Tathagata.
Impermanence has both shallow and deep meanings. The shallow understanding sees only impermanence without recognizing the non-self, emptiness, and tranquil nirvana of all phenomena; the deep understanding perceives non-self in all phenomena through the lens of impermanence, recognizes their emptiness, and thereby enters into the knowledge and insight of all Buddhas.
Impermanence can be viewed from both ordinary and sacred perspectives. The ordinary perspective sees things being born and things perishing, thus speaking of impermanence but not truly understanding real impermanence; the sacred perspective sees that birth is not true birth, and death is not true death, thus describing impermanence as illusory—this is true insight into impermanence.
Ordinary beings perceive impermanence as having inherent existence; Buddhas and Bodhisattvas perceive it as lacking inherent existence. Ordinary beings see impermanence but reinforce erroneous notions of inherent existence in things; Buddhas and Bodhisattvas see impermanence and develop insights into the non-inherent nature of all phenomena, freeing themselves from birth and death.
Ordinary beings lament upon seeing impermanence, developing sorrowful views leading to aversion, suffering countless pains; Buddhas and Bodhisattvas rejoice upon seeing impermanence, cultivating serene joy with correct views of non-birth and non-death, escaping from cyclic existence into nirvana, enjoying the bliss of samadhi.
Those who skillfully contemplate impermanence transition from shallow meanings to deep meanings, moving from ordinary views to sacred views—from seeing inherent existence to recognizing non-inherent existence—from perceiving birth and death to realizing non-birth and non-death—returning from cyclic existence into nirvana transforms bondage into liberation; this is truly real!
Among a hundred types of contemplation, none surpasses contemplating impermanence as being foremost. In everything one contemplates with an awareness of impermanence: there arise no delusions nor attachments; no desires arise nor actions are performed; one can enter into emptiness of phenomena and attain effortless states; one can escape cyclic existence and achieve liberation; one can extinguish myriad sufferings and attain enjoyment.
The merits derived from practicing contemplation on impermanence cannot be fully expressed even by the Buddhas with lotus mouths. All past Buddhas have deeply contemplated on impermanence to attain liberation; they have constantly observed it to gain peace. All Buddhas across three times have been liberated through their understanding of impermanence!
Deeply contemplating on impermanence allows one to know non-birth; deeply contemplating on impermanence enables one to escape cyclic existence; deeply contemplating on impermanence leads one to attain nirvana; deeply contemplating on impermanence results in liberation. Those who truly see impermanence share feelings akin to those of all Buddhas. The Dharma is profound—it begins with understanding impermanence; the Buddhist path is vast—it progresses through recognizing impermanence.
Buddha’s children throughout ten directions should first cultivate contemplation on impermanence within all Buddha Dharma. Observe heaven and earth while reflecting on their transience; observe the world while reflecting on its transience; observe body and mind while reflecting on their transience. In this world where subjects interact with objects—practice contemplation on transience, develop thoughts about transience—cultivate wisdom like that of a Buddha for liberation!
by – Taiwan Fearless Tathagata Sprout Great Perfection Meditation Center
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