Response to a forward on BUDDHISM from a long time friend..

Thanks friend for forwarding this article.

http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma8/imperm.html

The Buddhist Concept of Impermanence

Early Buddhism dealt with the problem of impermanence in a very rationale manner. This concept is known as anicca in Buddhism, according to which, impermanence is an undeniable and inescapable fact of human existence from which nothing that belongs to this earth is ever free. 

Buddhism declares that there are five processes on which no human being has control and which none can ever change. These five processes are namely, the process of growing old, of not falling sick, of dying, of decay of things that are perishable and of the passing away of that which is liable to pass. Buddhism however suggests that escape from these is possible and it's through Nirvana.

Hinduism also believes in the impermanent nature of life. But it deals with this problem differently. According to Hinduism, impermanence can be overcome by locating and uniting with the center of permanence that exists within oneself. This center is the Soul or the self that is immortal, permanent and ever stable. 

According to Hinduism, Atman is the fundamental truth that exists in every being, while at the microcosmic level it is Brahman who is the fundamental and supreme truth of all existence. He who realizes Atman verily becomes Brahman and attains immortality.

The Buddha differed radically with this most fundamental concept of Hinduism and in line with his preaching the early Buddhists did not believe in the existence of a permanent and fixed reality which could be referred to as either God or soul. According to them what was apparent and verifiable about our existence was the continuous change it undergoes.

Thus early Buddhism declares that in this world there is nothing that is fixed and permanent. Every thing is subject to change and alteration. "Decay is inherent in all component things," declared the Buddha and his followers accepted that existence was a flux, and a continuous becoming.

According to the teachings of the Buddha, life is comparable to a river. It is a progressive moment, a successive series of different moments, joining  together to give the impression of one continuous flow. It moves from cause to cause, effect to effect, one point to another, one state of existence to another, giving an outward impression that it is one continuous and unified movement, where as in reality it is not. The river of yesterday is not the same as the river of today. The river of this moment is not going to be the same as the river of the next moment. So does life. It changes continuously, becomes something or the other from moment to moment.

Take for example the life of an individual. It is a fallacy to believe that a person would remain the same person during his entire life time. He changes every moment. He actually lives and dies but for a moment, or lives and dies moment by moment, as each moment leads to the next. A person is what he is in the context of the time in which he exists. It is an illusion to believe that the person you have seen just now is the same as the person you are just now seeing or the person whom you are seeing now will be the same as the person you will see after a few moments. 

Even from a scientific point of view this is true. We know cell divisions take place in each living being continuously. Old cells in our bodies die and yield place continuously to the new ones that are forming. Like the waves in a sea, every moment, many thoughts arise and die in each individual . Psychologically and physically he is never the same all the time. Technically speaking, no individual is ever composed of the same amount of energy. Mental stuff and cellular material all the time. He is subject to change and the change is a continuous movement.

Impermanence and change are thus the undeniable truths of our existence. What is real is the existing moment, the present that is a product of the past, or a result of the previous causes and actions. Because of ignorance, an ordinary mind conceives them all to be part of one continuous reality. But in truth they are not.

The various stages in the life of a man, the childhood, the adulthood, the old age are not the same at any given time. The child is not the same when he grows up and becomes a young man, nor when the latter turns into an old man. The seed is not the tree, though it produces the tree, and the fruit is also not the tree, though it is produced by the tree.

The concept of impermanence and continuous becoming is central to early Buddhist teachings. It is by becoming aware of it, by observing it and by understanding it, one can find a suitable remedy for the sorrow of human life and achieve liberation from the process of anicca or impermanence.

from - www.hinduwebsite.com

"Nothing really matters to anyone other than oneself what one thinks, or feels about life in general; & the perception one has of oneself in particular. Of course if one is of great influence what one actuates has impact on many.

It too doesn't matter if one believes, relies on or trust in a supernatural persona, often referred to as God. A concept (? fact) that has been manipulated by thinking (not equivalent to well meaning, benevolent, honest, good-intentioned, godly, or even logical) Man.  

Most times the use of the ideal of a  divine character was for the benefit of the organizations or institutions leveraging it.

 Similarly groupings that are Political, Social, Academic in nature, have similar concepts. The individuals within the group i.e. Party members; Socialists, Professors, Consumers & Golfers of some exclusive Clubs are sometimes unaware of the non revealed main agendas of the group. Humans being basically kindly & good, these individuals genuinely carry out remarkably admirable, self-sacrificing deeds. These good deeds lend credence to the purported benevolence of the organization. 

In the case of religious groups Church, Religions, Cults - due to the commonly held understanding of the cultivation & practice of love for fellow man (deprived & suffering); the individuals of the group, by their genuine love, concern, charity & all else, effectively  reinforce the benevolence & credibility of Church, Religions & Cults. 

The stated or inferred, seemingly benevolent, or spiritual agenda of Religion using the idea, concept of a benevolent persona  - god, often are manipulated by chosen leaders! 

In fact 'god' is undeniably the most undeniable instrument for influence, manipulation, & coercion. 

Who would have the arrogance, confidence or irreverence to deny God? 

This makes 'God" the ideal instrument for manipulation-!

 Simple minded (not same as stupid or low Intelligence) Christians, Buddhists, Muslims, Democrats, Liberals, Labor, etc do or at the least (subconsciously) take the lead from the Pope, Temple High Priest, Imam, President of the Democratic Party et al. And being trusting can sometimes be "used" for ungodly programs :(

 Having known one another & being friends since years now dim in our childhood memories,  & soon moving onto another  dimension in our being-

°What is good, beneficial or meaningful to one's psyche 

°What at this juncture to one, is Truth? 

   

°What sits well in one's assessment of this entire many years of  being-ness? 

   

°What else would impact one at this point more meaningfully than the very basic transient urges that once in a while do still make our blood rise (so to speak!)

     That, is of prime concern. 

Petty mindedness, one-upmanship, name droppings, peer stature maneuverings, jostling for social pole position; the entire gamut of manifested, subtle, often obnoxious, overt efforts, to affirm one's puerile insecurities & clamoring needs for recognition, & acknowledgement as an INDIVIDUAL of a certain (society, peer, Club,or Religion-set) standing are not any more relevant or necessary; & being unnecessary -  is sadly analogous to a wandering canine needing to mark it's presence with his pee at every hydrant or whatever structures, it's canine mind regard as permanent everlasting thus  affirming - "I the one who is - was also here" 

Being in a physical world as we are, in our tangible form, 'living' in a passage of time, a linear like transition through life, makes it almost impossible for one to in any way dissociate or disregard, be unaware of the passing of moments (time), the growing, the changing, the aging, the past, the present & the future. 

We as finite being start & we end; thus transitioning in a more or less linear direction. Some say going forward, some like in the text forwarded, describes life as a flowing river.

And Buddha might have been able to overcome this impermanence - NICCA - by transcending that fact. In Buddha's attainment of Nirvana  (ultimate understanding?) He yet is a being like many others, only possessed with an extra acquired ability to transcend the present boundaries of His physical being. He has never & (please correct if wrong) not found or understood (at least at human level) the DIVINE .. 

To Him, the Buddha that may not be relevant; as seemingly to many other lesser humans, not necessary, relevant or essential in the short temporal existence called life.

Should one be able to 'live'  outside of the awareness of one being in a moving passage of time or of a river or of linear movement through one's life span then one might attain the centered-ness that is essential to rid all needs of one's physical constraints - (the sensual body-related needs)

Then whilst all else swirls or moves along in a frenzy of exhilarating excitement, one remains STATIC non-affected at perfect "PEACE" in the "CENTER"ness, the "STILL"ness the TRANQUILITY of 

                                  

"‹›‹›‹›‹›‹›‹NIRVANA›‹›‹›‹›‹›‹›" 

But sorry to add: Through the embrace of Buddhism when attaining earthly tranquility one might be considered as having a route to a form of escapism. A  denial of one's physical & emotional turmoil due to one's DUKAs. And by the practice & adoption of Buddhism one escapes these sufferings.

Buddhism in my humble view thus would serve as a release from this our physical life, which is likely filled with sufferings. 

In no way is one anywhere nearer in understanding, in bonding, or in closeness to fathoming the DIVINE, the CREATOR, MAKER, GOD. 

The Buddhist concept does not fundamentally consider an ULTIMATE SUPREME MAKER.Thus God or the DIVINE does n ot factor in Buddhism.

Finally to really be able to dissociate from our human-ness we have to be completely detached from all physical needs, urges as well as emotions. 
Much as an attainment of Nirvana!

The most evolved of creatures on earth would be one which has no need for any physical support, dependence or need on anything material for it's life.

Thus when that state is attained God becomes a different consideration, not related to spirituality or religion. probably in that state HE may even be not relevant.

Thanks for trying to plumb the depths"