The present

My friend Todd got me a little gift for Christmas called the Buddha Board. It's a neat little pad where you use water, instead of ink, to write or draw whatever you want. After a few minutes, the water with vaporized and it will become an empty pad again. I have been doing my Mantra character practice on it lately and it works perfectly. I find myself spending a lot of time walking back and forth in the apartment to write the best looking Mantra. Sometimes it doesn't look anything I want it to be and I wish I could wipe it off instantly so I can restart, there are other times where I write the perfect looking Mantra and I wish it will stay there for longer. The Buddha Board reminded me of some fundamental philosophies of Buddhism.

No matter how much you like or or dislike something, at some point in time, the phyiscal or the mental element will run to the end of its course, as everything that has a beginning also has an end. Whether it is the sterdiest architecture or the most basic form of microrganism, whether it is a relationship or just an acquaintance, nothing in the universe can escape from the cycle of birth (begin), aging (blossom), sickness (perish) and death (end). Nothing will last forever.

Again, just like many other concepts of Buddhism, this is such a pessimistic thought. Instead of telling you that your love ones will go to heaven, Buddhism suggested that everything just end (actually, more like going into a eternal cycle of birth and death, which is even more depressing, but I will leave that topic for another rainny day), instead of telling you that there will be some form of judgement to your bully, Buddhism suggested the pain will end, eventually. Buddhsim never fail to provide you with more reasons of "why bother to live?" From the surface, this is such a passive and gloomy way of treating life, but the core concept behind all these can be summarized in one word: present.

Since everything will come to an end and everything is ever-changing, the only thing we can be certain is the present. "Now" is the only moment you have in your life that you have control of, not a second ago, not a second later. Instead of cherishing the physical or even mental aspect of something which will not last, let's enjoy what you have at this moment. Don't be caught up with the mistakes you did yesterday (my ugly Mantra characters); don't wish for anything to be there forever (my beautiful Mantra characters); enjoy the moment (the personal time I get to have).

Of course, when things eventually come to an end, it will never be easy. The feeling will still be hurt, the heart will still be broken, but at least there will be no regret, because you have lived the present.

Comments

[miniv]

awwwwww yes i agree!!:)

[shindo]

The Buddha Board sounds really cool. I want to get one.

Does impermanence have to be depressing? There are some things for sure I'm thankful that they don't last forever.

[greg b]

Hmmmmm. Gonna think about this. For the most part, I definitely agree.