Excerpt from Rinpoche’s teachings on the four endings of impermanence:

The first of these is that all birth inevitably ends in death: Everything that is born will die. There is no other ending. When we consider the past, there is no being of whom we could say,  “This one never died.” Even among renowned saints and accomplished masters there isn’t a single one left other than their name and legacy. If even they died, why not us?  Everyone falls within the grasp of impermanence. We can’t avoid or escape it. This is the first ending of impermanence, that all birth ends in death.

The second ending of impermanence is that all that goes up ends by coming down. Many types of situations demonstrate this. For example, no matter how high our position of power, no matter how elevated our status, it is never permanent. Eventually, we fall from power. We can also examine how material structures go up then end by coming down. No matter how sturdily we build a structure, no matter how much we reinforce it, it will eventually fall. There is no such thing as a permanent structure. Fame and renown provide another example of impermanence. In one era someone may be known by everyone, a common household name, and then in a different time and place, no one recognizes them even when they are described. Reflect on this second ending of impermanence.

The third ending of impermanence is that all accumulation ends in exhaustion. Everything that we acquire –– wealth, money, and possessions –– will eventually be used up, depleted or worn out. As much as we may accumulate, one day it will no longer be ours. We should always consider this, especially when we are willing to forsake another’s welfare to acquire it. All the wealth and possessions amassed will at some point come to an end. This is the third ending of impermanence for reflection.

The fourth ending of impermanence is that all gathering ends in separation. This applies to different types of phenomena. Every relationship and every gathering of people eventually ends in farewell, even our families will ultimately separate. We may now have a family living together, but that is temporary. In the end, our children will move away. If we don’t separate by choice, at some point we will separate by death. One day we are a tight family unit and then we are scattered across the earth and become just a memory to one another. Organizations and institutions, too, assemble for a while but eventually disperse.  Even our body is a collection of parts that will at some point no longer be connected. Our skin, muscle, bones, ligaments and organs join together for the period of time we call “this life.” At the end of life, these parts will separate. Our teeth are a great example, dispersing even before our life ends. Our adult teeth grow gathered together in our mouth. As we age, they decay and begin to fall out. If we are lucky enough to live into old age, we may be toothless. All composite phenomena eventually end in separation.