"A ruin is not just something that happened long ago to someone else; its history is that of us all, the transience of power, of ideas, of all human endeavours."
- George Schaller
Sometimes I wonder how best to take down the system that is rapidly destroying the planet. Then I pause to consider that it seems like the system is doing a pretty good job of destroying itself, and all I need to do is breathe, and be patient.
"Slowly, painstakingly, like ants, men would make their paths and civilization and their wars once again, only to have it wash away again."
- Kiran Desai
"Life would be much easier and substantially less painful if we lived with the knowledge of impermanence as the only constant."
- Donna Farhi
"One must be deeply aware of the impermanence of the world."
- Dogen
"Thanks to impermanence, everything is possible."
- Thich Nhat Hanh
"Nonresistance, nonjudgement, and nonattachment are the three aspects of true freedom and enlightened living."- Eckhart Tolle
"In our instinctive attachments, our fear of change, and our wish for certainty and permanence, we may undercut the impermanence which is our greatest strength, our most fundamental identity.
Without impermanence, there is no process. The nature of life is change. All hope is based on process."
- Rachel Naomi Remen
Change is the only constant in our Universe, and impermanence is the way of things. Nothing lasts forever. Dog eat dog capitalism, and blatant consumerism won't either.
Indeed, they have been crumbling and dying for some time already. What you are hearing is a dirge for the system as it decays. Layered under that are the celebratory sounds of a new way coming into being.
It feels like many people are suddenly waking up from their consumer slumber and realising how truly dire our situation is. I think from this point all we can do is practise non attachment and love... Then just focus on making our inevitable fall as gentle as possible. Life can still be beautiful and now is the time to really appreciate it :)
ReplyDeleteWell-said, Karen. I really like your attitude - accept what comes with grace and love. -Erin
DeleteKaren,
DeleteImpermanence means that we should enjoy what we have, and enjoy it NOW. I try to not take anything for granted, and appreciate the beauty when it presents itself (which, thankfully, is often).
"We are stardust.
ReplyDeleteWe are golden.
And we've got to get ourselves back to the garden."
And...
"Dust In The Wind"
I close my eyes only for a moment, and the moment's gone
All my dreams pass before my eyes, a curiosity
Dust in the wind
All they are is dust in the wind
Same old song
Just a drop of water in an endless sea
All we do crumbles to the ground
Though we refuse to see
Dust in the wind
All we are is dust in the wind
Now don't hang on
Nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky
It slips away
And all your money won't another minute buy
Dust in the wind
All we are is dust in the wind
All we are is dust in the wind
Dust in the wind
Everything is dust in the wind
Everything is dust in the wind
In the wind.
Terri,
DeleteThese are two of our favourite songs. It is all in our music.
Thoughtful quotes and photographs to ponder. Thanks Gregg.
ReplyDelete