August 21, 2018

Ruins: Impermanence In Action


"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.



6 comments:

  1. 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 :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well-said, Karen. I really like your attitude - accept what comes with grace and love. -Erin

      Delete
    2. Karen,

      Impermanence 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).

      Delete
  2. "We are stardust.
    We 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Terri,

      These are two of our favourite songs. It is all in our music.

      Delete
  3. Thoughtful quotes and photographs to ponder. Thanks Gregg.

    ReplyDelete

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