How does the Buddhas idea of impermanence can help overcome suffering?

Answer 1

Impermanence in Buddhism is a concept which indicated one of the laws of nature of all phenomenon in the universe .i.e., all matter is subject to change, all mental processes are subject to change and nothing remains the same and hence everything is impermanent. The implication of impermanence is that since everything in the human experience is impermanent, every experience is bound to be unsatisfactory and hence that cannot be considered as belonging to oneself.

Answer 2

Though impermanence has deep philosophical implications in relation to emptiness (Śūnyatā) and the ultimate nature of reality, I will describe the introductory presentation of impermanence as given in the Four Noble Truths.

As you may know, the Buddha gives the Four Noble Truths as a means to help all beings within cyclic (samsaric) existence overcome suffering. These truths are:

1. The Truth of Suffering

2. The Truth of the Origin of Suffering

3. The Truth of the Cessation of Suffering

4. The Truth of the Eightfold path (the path that overcomes suffering)

Impermanence plays a huge role in the first and second Truths. Suffering, in the Buddhist context, refers to physical, mental, and existential suffering. Rather than saying that there is only suffering, Buddhists suggest that happiness is impermanent, which leads to suffering. Any material acquisition you make or pleasure you receive will eventually degrade or be lost.

Understanding this suffering, one looks to its origin. In this investigation, one begins to realize that his or her perception of the self as a static, non-changing, stable thing is the cause. A static self perceives preferences (assigns them almost arbitrarily) and, thus, does not work well with an ever changing world. Even if the world is perfect to you (your ideal world) in one moment, it will eventually change, leaving you unhappy. The unchanging self and changing universe are incompatible. However, if one recognizes that there is no static self (selflessness) to be found one can escape this sort of suffering. In fact, if all things are impermanent, then the self has no fixed identity either, being subject to this impermanence. In order to properly understand what it means to be selfless and to understand the ultimate nature of all things as impermanent and empty, the practitioner then turns towards the last two truths and seeks escape from suffering by understanding its cessation and following the path that leads to its cessation.

Answer 3

Because it is a fact of nature and we use it to teach us to stop grasping after the notion that we will live a non-changing life. Believing that we will have a perfect, non-changing life without ever having sickness, or strife is a major reason for people suffering. Accepting that there will always be change and being at peace with it helps alleviate suffering and brings us closer to enlightenment.

As the Buddha said just before death "All compounded things must pass" Compounded things are anything made of other stuff, which means everything in the universe but the most basic sub-sub atomic particles.

Answer 4

Because it is one of main hindrances to reaching enlightenment. Everything changes. Nothing is permanent. Everything dies and changes, even atoms according to quantum mechanics (the Buddha got that right too). But people cling to the desire and idea that things are always going to be the way they are now. That they themselves will ever be young and strong, that their job will be there forever, that their spouse will be with them till the end, that they will never get sick, etc. But that is untrue. The truth of this is all around us but we fail to see it and we cling to the notion that it won't happen to us. That clinging, that desire inhibits us from see the truth and without seeing that truth we cannot liberate ourselves from our fears of change which is universal and ever present. Those fears drive our thoughts, words and deeds to do amazingly irrational things trying to ward off change. It drives our personal decisions, politics, hate groups, and on and on. How many times have you seen a person who dyes their hair and it comes out terrible or has a terrible face lift and you think of them as silly or ugly or stupid but they are driven by that desire to prevent change. So, I was a little long winded, and empathic, but we humans do a lot of silly, stupid, irrational things all it trying to hold back change. The Buddha saw this and its effect on us and taught us not to fear it, but to accept it.