Contemplating impermanence in every thought
The life always changes according to the laws of creation, which is not easy to resist. This life is as impermanent as a leaf, from the moment it sprouts it is like a stinging wound into space. Our gains and losses are, in the end, all in the midst of a vast sea of people. When we know everything is impermanent, we will feel everything with "wisdom" so that we can live fully in the present, trying little by little to transform the mind, creating better achievements in the future.  That is the meaning of "contemplation of impermanence".

Reason of Predestined - Coincidence of Predestined Origin 

According to Buddhism, all things and phenomena in the universe, from as small as a grain of sand and dust to as large as a globe, are always in motion and constantly changing according to the law of "Situation - Standing - Destruction - Voidness", that is, each thing has a process of formation, development and existence for a period of time, then changes to destruction and finally dissolution. Regarding sentient beings, Buddhism believes that it is not an exception to that rule, or in other words, anyone must obey the law of "Birth - Aging - Sickness - Death". This constant change and change is called "impermanent". Everything is governed by the law of cause and effect. Causes and conditions are also not natural, but they are created by the movement of things, phenomena and the process of merging and dissolving of previous causes and conditions, thereby creating new causes and conditions. Buddhism calls it the "Coincidence of Predestined Origin ".  

According to Buddhism, human existence on earth is due to karma from previous lives. The appearance of a person is due to the combination of many reasons and predestinations, and that person ceases to exist when the reasons and predestinations dissolve. In the chain of 12 reasons and predestined conditions - the core of the human perspective, the continuous chain of people in the cycle of birth and death, Buddhism believes that this chain has a close relationship. are closely related, this is the effect of the former but is the cause - the condition for the latter.  


All things arise from cause and condition and also die from reasons and predestinations. The reason of cause and effect makes us realize one thing: Man is a creator who creates his own life, masters his life and his own destiny. Human life's happiness or sorrow is governed by reasons and predestinations that people create themselves.  

Everything is always moving, changing, everything we have, we see is just impermanent. Impermanence is a change, is not permanent, does not stay forever in a certain state, but changes from one state to another, from formation to development and then disintegration, like always flowing like steep water.

The Diamond Sutra says: "All conditioned dharmas are like dreams, like illusions, like water bubbles, like morning dew, like sparks flashing in the sky". The Lankavatara Sutra says that the conditioned dharmas are "not real, as fast as lightning, so they are said to be like illusions". It is impermanence, fluctuating coincident, is the power of balance, is the arising of dharmas. It is impermanence, fluctuating coincident, is the power of balance, is the arising of dharmas. The truth is that, but not everyone sees and accepts it, it is the cause of suffering and consequences. This is the reason that we have to practice to penetrate, realize this truth.

Elimination of ego – Reaching no-self

In the song "Praying", poet Vu Hoang Chuong lamented his life as follows:
 
“Do I have anything left?
The mountain collapsed, and the sand river
Wandering from samsara
The dark forest is in the front, far away for miles"

When we know that people cannot change the law of "Birth - Aging - Sickness - Death", that is beneficial. Why? If we don't think that we must be old, have disease, and may die early, we fall into the illusion of our permanence. Good fortune is not permanent, so how can you be sure of anything in life? When good things come to us, we should not be too greedy.  
According to Buddhist teachings, sentient beings are not annihilated, nor are they permanent, but we are spinning around in the cycle of birth and death. And on that "wheel of samsara", there is no beginning, no end. That wheel keeps spinning in the cycle of samsara of birth and death, until people practice and reach the ultimate liberation. 

 
Any good person, in addition to the hardships of human life, also has a transcendental life, a peaceful life. That is the life of someone who understands the "truly wondrous Dharma", that is, the Buddhadharma. Not understanding the "true magic" people will suffer forever in samsara. As a human being, no one wants to prolong his life in misery, nor does anyone shorten his life in wealth. Being aware of that, we will find that we need to practice and practice "contemplation of impermanence". 
Contemplation of impermanence not only promotes our practice but also energizes our own peace. Once caught up in the frivolous currents of worldly life, the emotions of afflictions, greed, anger, delusion, jealousy, and pride will increase, and lead the way to more negative karma. Therefore we need a transformation from within. The understanding of karmic cause and effect and samsara helps to open the eyes to fully understand the nature of suffering and samsara and to develop compassion. 
Practice contemplating impermanence, observing body and mind, and changing circumstances to get rid of the disease of craving and progress to peace of mind. Contemplating impermanence to know that human life is precious and not to lose the opportunity to practice and do good. How meaningful our short years in this world will be.

During the 49 years of teaching the Dharma to save birth, the Buddha often advised us to always remember to think about the impermanence of the body and mind, in the circumstances, the attachment to self, greed, hatred, and delusion no longer exists, compassion flourishes, knows how to love people to save lives. The Buddha said the doctrine of impermanence for sentient beings to awaken and practice, to eliminate ego, to attain no-self. Impermanence is the key to help us open the door to enlightenment, help us see clearly the reality of life so that we can take control when facing impermanence to not suffer and despair.
 
Contemplating impermanence helps us appreciate what is present and live deeply every moment of everyday life. We eliminate the ego, the mind of greed, selfishness to bring a pure mind to free the suffering of birth and death by doing meaningful deeds, benefiting ourselves and others, helping us to appreciate every moment of life, knowing how to live in awareness and mindfulness. 

When we reflect on the law of impermanence, we no longer have attachments and no longer suffer from all the changes of life. Impermanence is also a cure for craving, making people's body and mind calm before the scenes of separation, suffering, joy, and loss. Understanding impermanence, we boldly move away from temporary pleasures, diligently practice to reach the Eternal Truth.

Tài liệu tham khảo: 
Kinh Tạp A-Hàm, Quyển 1, Kinh 1. Vô thường, HT. Thích Đức Thắng dịch Việt
Kinh Tương ưng bộ III, HT. Thích Minh Châu dịch Việt

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Contemplating impermanence in every thought
Ban Lien Huu 18 July, 2022
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