The Principle of 

“Life is Impermanent” 

The Buddha said that among all the footprints, the elephant's footprints are the most perfect, and among all the cultivation, the meditation on impermanence is the most extraordinary. Therefore, we pray that the Guru will look down with compassion and give us blessings so that we can always keep the impermanence of death in our minds. The standard of meditating here is that we can remember the impermanence, have a precious feeling for time, and use it all in practicing the dharma, just like how there is not enough time to cut down the thorn bushes at the gate of Gongqiong Geshe.

The outer world is impermanent like autumn clouds, the inner sentient beings are impermanent like actors, and all conditioned phenomena are fleeting. All manifestations will be exhausted. Being together for a long time will be divided, the piles will collapse, and heights will fall. All living beings today will turn into loess in a hundred years. We are all going to die, but when we will die is uncertain. When we die, we have nothing to rely on except the Dharma.

There are three essentials for meditation on impermanence:

The first essential is to think that death is affirmatory:

Death will certainly come and cannot be avoided; all conditioned phenomena are impermanent and will eventually disappear. Our bodies are also conditioned phenomena and will die and disappear due to impermanence. Since our life is exhausted moment by moment, the life span is decreased more and more, and finally, it will end. Therefore, we must practice and cultivate now.

The second essential is to think that the time of death is uncertain:

The time we live in this world is uncertain; there are countless causes of death, but there are few factors that can extend our lives; because of the body's vulnerability and fragility, the time of death is uncertain. So, we must practice and cultivate now.

The third essential is to think that nothing will help when dying except cultivation:

Family and friends are not able to help when one is dying. Accumulated wealth is no help when one is dying. The body is no help when one is dying. So, let’s not cling and attach to anything that seems wonderful in life.

In this world, all people are born and die alone, and come to this world and go away alone. By understanding this principle, there should be none or nothing left to be difficult to let go. Our spiritual mind eventually will leave the body. The life span is so short and temporary. If we do not cherish the current time, once it passes, it will never come back again. Therefore, we must seize our very precious time now and practice the path of liberation diligently. Just like a farmer who gets a snake in his arms and immediately throws it to the ground, we must also abandon the trivial matters in the world and not hold on to anything. Don’t be lazy or slack off when it comes to cultivating the dharma, and don’t wait for tomorrow after tomorrow, or next year after next year.

Everyone knows how to prepare for death, just like some people buy a cemetery and prepare a coffin for themselves in advance. But they do not prepare for rebirth in the Buddha’s pure lands. People in the world pursue carpe diem and deceive themselves with their perverse persistence, thus spending the rest of their lives in leisure and ignorance.

The Buddha said that among all the footprints, the elephant's footprints are the most perfect, and among all the cultivation, the meditation on impermanence is the most extraordinary. Therefore, we pray that the Guru will look down with compassion and give us blessings, so that we can always keep the impermanence of death in our mind. The standard of meditating here is that we can remember the impermanence, have a precious feeling for time, and use it all in practicing the dharma. Just like there is no time to cut down the thorn bushes at the gate of Gongqiong Geshe.