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Newest Reality

(12,712 posts)
Thu Jan 23, 2020, 08:06 PM Jan 2020

The first mark of existence: Impermanence

There are three marks of existence:

Life is:

1. Impermanent
2. Unsatisfactory
3. Not Self

Of course, the first one is factual--not a belief--that is, if one investigates it carefully. The second two are logical outcomes of the first and also easily discerned by way of careful observation. Buddhism is a come see for yourself approach by all means.

Here is a video of a person taking a snapshot of himself every day of his life for twenty-years. This is the longest frame of time I have seen for one of these types of compositions. It is said that one lifetime is like a flash of lightening and this video is an interesting example because it all depends on the frame of reference or order of magnitude. However, it is a good reminder that your Dharma practice is important in the here and now since that is what you take with you, if anything.





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The first mark of existence: Impermanence (Original Post) Newest Reality Jan 2020 OP
Good post and reminder Newest Reality. c-rational Jan 2020 #1
Thanks! Newest Reality Jan 2020 #2

c-rational

(2,581 posts)
1. Good post and reminder Newest Reality.
Thu Jan 23, 2020, 11:10 PM
Jan 2020

On my mirror I have a note with three lines (which I should remember to read every morning).

Be Here Now.
Self Control in All Things
I AM

Regarding the unsatisfactory part, which I appreciate from the Buddhist philisophy, I am still drawn to this quote by Sharon Salzbert (b. 1952), an American Buddhist Teacher

"The difference between misery and happiness depends on what we do with our attention."

Peace.

Newest Reality

(12,712 posts)
2. Thanks!
Thu Jan 23, 2020, 11:16 PM
Jan 2020

I am familiar with Sharon Salzbert. That's a good quote and appropriate.

That reminds me of the old saying, "Energy flows where attention goes." I don't know who that is attributed to, but it comes up on the shaman side. We do know that fixations and reification are factors in samsaric existence.

I appreciate your comment!

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