mettavalokanaya_buddhist_magazine_january_2021.

The Three
Universal Laws
of Existence….
A
characteristic is always and
invariably connected with
something that tells us of the
nature of a thing. Thus, the
characteristics of existence pertain to
what is always in existence and about
existence. They teach us how to view
existence and they guide us in what
to do with existence. Understanding
these characteristics removes our
delusion that existence is permanent,
pleasant and is something associated
with the self. The Three Universal
Characteristics are: Impermanence -
Aniccha / Suffering - Dukha / No-self
- Anatta. Impermanence (Aniccha)
- Impermanence has not only been
recognized in Buddhist thought but
elsewhere in the history of philosophy.
The Greek philosopher Heraclitus said,
“One cannot step into the same river
twice. This observation which implies
the ever-changing and transient nature
of things is very Buddhist. In Buddhist
scriptures, it is said that the world is
impermanent like autumn clouds, that
birth and death are like a dance, and that
human life is like a flash of lightning or a
waterfall. Our houses and condominium
units cannot always be as we bought
them. Motors of cars and appliances
cannot always be as efficient as when
they came out of the manufacturing
plant. Our looks, youthfulness, strength
and vitality have changed and change
year to year, month to month, and
moment to moment. Life-threatening
illnesses often catch the patient and
his close relatives by surprise because
of the lack of awareness that a disease
doesn’t develop overnight. If a person
does not engage in regular and correct
meditation practice, chances are he
will not sensitive to changes that have
taken place in his physiology and, in his
anatomy. Oft times, it is because of the
fact that diagnostic tests do not reveal
what is there at the subclinical level.
Quite a number of my voice patients
have been referred to me by ENT
specialists who tell me, “Wala naman
akong makita.”
At close examination and
assessment of the voice patient, I
notice manifestations undetectable
and immeasurable by voice diagnostic
equipment like peculiar vocal fold
approximation on sounds of certain
consonant and consonant clusters,
hyperadduction in high notes and other
wrong behavior of parts of the body
involved in phonation. The effect of
harmful substances is also not quickly
seen and felt. It takes years before
one discovers the ill effects on him of
cigarette smoking, the use of drugs
(even prescribed ethical drugs) and
alcohol as well as animal flesh, especially
fats and entrails. To get attached to selfconcepts
of excellence and superior
ability in certain fields is also brought
about by a lack of understanding of
impermanence. Time was when my SRO
concerts, extraordinary achievements
in the field of operatic/classical singing
and frequent features in leading
broadsheets and magazines made me
Philippine
Joscephine
Gomez
(Monlam Dronma)
#1 in the public eye. Good, I didn’t get
attached to it. I readily welcomed it
when Andion Fernandez and Rachelle
Gerodias started shining. In fact, I refer
to Rachelle as the Philippines’ current
#1 soprano - something few sopranos
would acknowledge, whether publicly
or to themselves.
Our relationships with people
are likewise characterized by
impermanence. Enemies in the past
can become our friends and friends
can also become traitors. Not to
consider changes in our characters and
personalities as well as in our friends,
because of new attitudes, interests,
status and other circumstances can
lead to a deterioration or end of
a friendship. Marriages often
fail because of the deluded
expectation that each will
“remain the same”. How
frustrated a lot of married
people are! Understanding
and
practicing
impermanence yields
immediate benefits which
are visible in our daily lives.
It is an antidote to attachment
and ill-will which lead to suffering.
Death is said to be like a friend
and a teacher to the Dharma student
and practitioner. When understood, it
can discourage deep resentment and
unforgiveness, knowing its futility. To
remember death is to remember the
impermanence of our personality.
Meditation on death is beneficial
in that we learn to live life aware of the
impermanence of fame, wealth and
power. Accepting that the time of death
is uncertain, our mind is now turned
to Dharma study and practice and
this we must do without wasting time
and opportunity. Seeing that all things
perish and change every moment,
we begin to see that things have no
substantial existence of their own. We,
therefore, understand the ultimate
truth about the nature of things.
“Understanding of
Impermanence”….
42 l Mettavalokanaya l January l 2021 2021 l January l Mettavalokanaya l 43