84. Paramita of Meditative Concentration I — Contemplate the Nature of Change and Impermanence
Longchen Nyingtik Meditation 84
The Beginning
Take refuge and arouse bodhicitta.
The Main Part
Whatever is born is impermanent and is bound to die; whatever comes together is impermanent and is bound to come apart; whatever is stored up is impermanent and is bound to run out; whatever rises up is impermanent and is bound to fall down. All worldly glamour and prosperity will eventually decline and fall. How pathetic are those who still grip strongly onto the ephemeral and insubstantial affairs of this life!
Even I myself will soon pass away. There is no guarantee that I will not die tomorrow morning or this very night. How will the confused appearances of this life help me? Only the profound Dharma instructions are surely beneficial at the time of death. Reflect: Nothing remains the same at every day, every night, every minute, every second, or every microsecond; inexorably I am moving closer and closer to death. Thus, resolve: I must exert myself in the practice of meditative absorption.
Reminder
Why must we practice meditative absorption? Because everything is ephemeral and we’d better practice right away, or it will be too late. Who knows if we’ll leave this world tomorrow, or next year? We don’t have much time left for procrastination.
People tend to say: “Wait until my hair turns white or my teeth fall out, then I’ll do this and do that . . .” Others lament: “I don’t have any son or daughter, what shall I do when I get old? What’s going to happen to me when I’m over 80?” These people do worry a lot, but frankly, we may not be able to live that long at all.
The Ending
Dedicate the merit of your practice to all sentient beings.
