Impermanence

Tidal windstorm

Splits trees and rock,

Yet cannot last a day.

So much less, man’s work.

When a storm hits, an entire ocean of wind and rain is spent upon the land. Leaves  are turned inside out, branches are torn, and even hard granite is worn away. But  such gales seldom last an entire day. In spite of the tremendous amount of force  that is released, the storm cannot last.

If heaven’s works cannot last a day, human works must be even less lasting.  Governments barely survive from year to year, the rules of society are constantly  being challenged, the family erodes, personal relationships decay, and one’s career  topples.

Even the monuments of the world are now being destroyed by air pollution  and neglect. Nothing lasts. It is simple fact that no event set in motion by human  beings lasts forever.

All our efforts are temporary. They borrow from preexisting forces, ride the cur-  rent of natural events, and disappear according to the dictates of the situation. It is  best to realize the transitory nature of things and work with it.

Understanding the  world’s ephemeral nature can be the biggest advantage of all.