I beg you to just see all existent phenomena as empty and to beware of taking as real all that is nonexistent. Take care of yourself in this world of shadows and echoes.
-Layman P’ang’s dying words
A core insight of the Buddha is his understanding of impermanence or emptiness, which is eloquently evoked in the above quote by Layman P’ang. Since time immemorial, the human race has had to deal with the fleeting, ephemeral nature of life and the knowledge that everything we have and love will one day be gone. Buddhism offers a way to transform the suffering that accompanies impermanence into openness, flow, and the joy of living life to its fullest.
Monday’s discussion will focus on how the practice of Buddhism can transform the suffering we feel in the face of impermanence into the joy being fully alive. We’ll also look at how meditation retreats can intensify and enhance this process.
