Atisha’s Seven Points of Mind Training – Lojong

The First Key Point

Practice 2: Impermanence

“The only certainty in life is the fact that we will die. The time of death is unknown and the circumstances that will cause death are uncertain. Every aspect of our life is impermanent.”

                              – Khentrul Lodrö T’hayé Rinpoche

Root Text

First Key Point: The Preliminaries, The Support For Practice
1. First, train in the preliminaries.

Resources

Required Reading
Optional Reading
  • The Great Path of Awakening by Jamgon Kongtrul
  • Enlightened Courage by Dilgo Khyentse

Assignments

Assignment 1

  • Listen to the recording for this practice, Impermanence.

Assignment 2

  • Read the corresponding passages in The Power of Mind: A Tibetan Monk’s Guide to Finding Freedom in Every Challenge by Khentrul Lodrö T’hayé, pp. 23—33.
  • Additional Optional Reading:
    • The Great Path of Awakening by Jamgon Kongtrul
    • Enlightened Courage by Dilgo Khyentse.

Assignment 3

  • Read the Daily Practice Instructions 
  • Spend two days integrating an awareness of impermanence into whatever you are doing throughout the day.
  • In addition, integrate this practice into a brief formal meditation.

Daily Practice Instructions

You may want to review the first practice, which includes ideas for generating reminders throughout your day.

How will you integrate this contemplation with everything you do for these two days? Review the suggestions for creating the habit of checking your body, speech, and mind with vigilant guard, and for remembering the practice (mindfulness). Create automated or tangible reminders. Make sure that whatever methods you use lead you to remember impermanence about every 10-15 minutes and in each new situation.

Use the following instructions as your practice guide:

Set an alarm or leave a note next to your bed reminding you that the practice for the day is the contemplation of impermanence. Then, make a vow to remember impermanence all day long no matter what occurs. In this way, respond to everything that happens during the day in relation to impermanence.

Keep setting commitments: 

  • Before starting your morning routine, make a vow to yourself that you won’t forget impermanence. 
  • Before getting in the car and driving somewhere, commit to remembering this every few minutes during the drive. 
  • Before starting work, commit  to remembering impermanence in relation to whatever comes up during the workday. 
  • Before going to a party or social event, commit to remembering impermanence before walking in the door. 
  • Most importantly, commit to remembering impermanence before meeting a person or situation that might be challenging for you. 

In this way, before you start any new activity, vigilantly commit to remembering how this life and everything in it is impermanent.

How to practice this in difficult situations (adversity): If people or events upset you, pause and refresh your perspective. Remember that everything is impermanent and nothing lasts, whether good or bad. To expect it to be otherwise is a mistaken perception that does not accord with reality.

Often, when we are upset, it is because we relate to the situation, person, place, or thing as if it  were permanent and lasting. When an object of our attachment breaks, goes away, or changes, we become unhappy. When a situation arises for which we feel aversion, it seems to last forever. We forget that it too shall pass. If we realized that phenomena are not lasting and do not remain the same for even a single moment, much of what disturbs us would no longer be as upsetting. 

Apply the perspective of impermanence to your immediate situation. Instead of magnifying the details, step back. Consider the long-term view, will this matter when I die or after I am dead? All phenomena arise and subside whether we like it or not. From this perspective, our situation may be brief and inconsequential in light of all that has occurred and will occur in existence. One day this situation will be a distant memory, even completely forgotten.

To practice this in positive situations:  Reflect upon impermanence in positive moments as well. When good things happen, don’t become attached and believe that they should last. Try to remember impermanence in relation to each of your possessions all day. For example, think of impermanence in relation to your car, your house, your clothes, your jewelry, your money, relationships, and so on. We suffer because we think these things should last, yet there is no such thing as “lasting” or “staying the same.” Ideally, you will come to appreciate these things while they last,  and not suffer so much when the situation changes.

To practice this in neutral situations: Constantly reflect on the effects of impermanence. Whatever you are doing and with whomever, think that you, they, and the activity are impermanent. Bring to mind both obvious impermanence and imperceptible momentary change. Ideally, every time you see or talk to someone, think, “This could be the last time I see them.” Then, treat the person as you would wish to treat them if you knew it was your last meeting.

Nightly Routine:

  1. Reflect on how you did today:
  • Did you integrate the perspective of impermanence into everything you did? 
  • Did recalling impermanence change your perspective or actions?
  1. In recalling the moments that you forgot to practice, generate regret and resolve to do better. You might imagine yourself in that same situation and envision yourself remembering this practice.

3. Where you succeeded in practice, rejoice, then dedicate the merit and make aspirations.

Schedule: 

  • If you are able to, sit for 5-20 minutes each day. 
  • If you already have a daily meditation practice, you can add this contemplative meditation to it. 

How to Practice:  Begin by sitting in meditation posture to cultivate the key points of body and speech. Then, establish your motivation. Pause for a moment and think that you are going to contemplate impermanence in order to free beings from suffering and bring them to genuine happiness.

Review the different kinds of impermanence as you sit using the book, The Power of Mind, or using the outline provided. This is a contemplative meditation. Read a point, reflect on its meaning, and apply your understanding to your experience.

Focus especially on how the awareness of impermanence might change the way you relate to people, material objects, or situations. Imagine how you would react differently if, from the beginning of interacting with them, you knew the situation was impermanent and changing, and that no matter what you do, it will never stay the same.

At the end, think about how an awareness of impermanence inspires you to make the most of this human life. Remember that you can’t know how long this precious life will last. Then make a personal commitment to make the best possible use of this opportunity now, while you can. There is no time to procrastinate.

Conclude with short dedications and aspirations.

For an outline of these teachings and further reading, click here.

Assignment 4

  • Use a journal to document your reflections on this week’s practice.
  • Are there any insights, experiences, or questions you would like to share in the discussion box below?

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