回到正常是不正常的
大流行過後，我們希望一切能夠「恢復正常」。但這在現實中是不可能的。正常的是無常：變化不斷。當我們擁抱這種自然流動時，我們就可以開始看到變化帶來的新機會。我們可以抓住這些機會，並創造性地利用它們。
世界因疫情發生了許多變化。這些變化帶來了許多挑戰：隔離、屏蔽和揭開屏蔽。經過如此多的變化，我們發現自己處於一個疫情後的世界。這次大流行的時期是一個相當混亂的時期。因為我們有回去的念頭。每個人都在談論回去，回去。談論“恢復正常”。但事實上，「回去」是不可能的，不是嗎？當我們這麼說時，我們正在談論做不可能的事。因為回到過去是不可能的。為此，我們需要一台時間機器。
所以回去的想法本身就是一個問題。事實上，從佛法的角度來看，這是一個非常好的教法。因為我們現在可以非常清楚地看到我們對過去有多麼依戀。我們可以看到我們有多想維持我們熟悉的東西——我們有多想繼續維持現狀。 這反過來又向我們展示了我們的心執著的習慣，以及我們的心如何試圖讓某些東西永久存在。我們想要無常嗎？如果有人自發性地問我們，我們會說我們更喜歡永久。
當你在尋找一份好工作時，你在尋找什麼？永久職位，對嗎？沒有人會尋找臨時職位。我們想要一份好工作，從而獲得永久職位。當然，現實是不存在永久職位這樣的東西。所以，我們應該思考這一點。我們正在尋找不存在的東西。
我們有很多這樣矛盾的想法──我們想長壽，但又不想變老。這兩件事不可能吧？我們想要哪一個？是要活得長久，還是要年輕？我們希望事情保持原樣。因為持久感覺就像安全感。
我們付出了很大的努力來避免改變。我們依靠醫療公司來幫助治療我們的疾病。或者我們服用人參。或者我們嘗試只吃有機食品。但如果我們認真思考一下，我們過去已經嘗試過所有這些事情。皇帝嘗試過人參和有機食品。英國人和美國人也嘗試了各種方法。但他們無法阻止改變。
生活就是改變
如果我們認真思考一下，我們的生活就意味著生活的改變。我們都知道，沒有永恆的生命。在一生中，我們都會經歷轉變。我們看著自己的身體形狀從童年到成年、到老年、到疾病、到死亡。這樣的轉變一直在發生。
我們在工作中也會經歷轉變。我們的工作生活總是在改變。我們也會經歷人際關係的轉變。即使我們不希望這樣的事情發生，它也會發生。因為關係會發生變化，無論是朋友之間或伴侶之間。
我們在佛法的道路上經歷轉變。這樣的轉變很好，不是嗎？否則我們就成不了佛。如果不改變，我們將永遠處於混亂之中，讓眾生受苦。但因為轉變是不可避免的，所以我們有機會成為大菩薩。我們有機會成為一個非常善良的人。我們有一天有機會成佛。因此，轉變一直在發生是件好事。
那麼我們可以看到，這種改變對我們其實是有幫助的。如果好事發生但變成壞事，請不要擔心。現在雖然不好，但一定會改變。也許接下來幾天我們會下大雨，真正的暴風雨天氣。空氣感覺非常潮濕和沈重，我們不喜歡這種感覺。但別擔心——太陽會出來的。所有的改變都是如此！無論現在發生什麼，它都會改變。
有時我們說，壞的情況永遠不會改變，但好的情況總是會改變。但當然，如果我們仔細觀察，我們可以清楚地看到事情並非如此。
當我們的身體在衰退時，沒有地方是好的。當你到了一定的年紀就會出現這種情況。也許現在情況很好：你的身體狀況很好，你對此感到高興。但當你站起來的時候，當你快樂的時候，不要驕傲。當事情順利時以及遇到挑戰時，我們都必須記住佛法，因為我們的幸福總是會改變。當你的身體衰退時，也要記得佛法。
要了解更多信息，請查看 freshmind.info 上的冥想、短視頻和課程
How can we get it right?
We have to correct our wrong view about the way things are. Of course, that only applies if you have a wrong view. Maybe you’re lucky and you don’t have that. Our typical wrong view is that we think permanence is normal. Instead, when you think of “normal,” think about things changing. Then when change inevitably comes, you will see it as normal.
Change is normal. For things to remain unchanging would not be normal at all! But somehow we got it wrong somewhere. One day it’s raining, and then the next day the sun comes out. That’s change, and that’s normal.
So we have to be prepared for change. Buddha taught that the way to work with our mind in preparation for death and dying is to be prepared for change. Then we’ll be prepared for the biggest change.
We can begin by trying to see any change as an opportunity. Because every situation, any situation at all, actually carries an opportunity to turn that situation into something wonderful, for oneself and for others. That is what I mean by opportunity: the chance to create something that is wonderful not only for ourselves but for others.
And it wouldn’t be possible to get a good opportunity if things were not impermanent.
From the worldly point of view, without impermanence young people could not become new millionaires and billionaires. We could not have new billionaires if things always stayed the same. And from a dharma point of view, without change there also could not be any new bodhisattvas, new buddhas, or new compassionate beings to help our world.
要了解更多信息，請查看 freshmind.info 上的冥想、短視頻和課程
Three ways to cope with change
So, how can we cope with change? How do we learn to live with impermanence?
- Accept impermanence as normal. Normal is not permanence. Normal does not mean unchanging. Normalcy is change.
- Embrace change. Nobody can stop change. So, embracing it is much better than longing for what isn’t here. For example, when I arrived in Hong Kong, right away I went to the place where I like to eat curry. But it seems to have changed and now the food’s not so good. So I will find a new curry place.
When we embrace change, we can see it as a fresh new opportunity: what is there for me to discover here? This is very simple to understand. For example, don’t try to ignore death and dying. Our big change is coming, you know. We cannot ignore that. We have to accept it and be able to embrace it. The more we accept and embrace that big change, the smoother our journey will be.
- See change as an opportunity. We go through big changes and small ones – so many changes all the time. When I see a young child, it’s clear that no one can stop them from growing and changing.
When the sun is setting, you cannot stop it. And when the sun is rising, you cannot prevent it. Sometimes I don’t want the sun to rise because I want to sleep longer. When I was growing up in the monastery, I especially hated sunrises because I wanted to sleep in. I wanted to sleep without the change of the sun coming up.
We cannot stop change, but at the same time, it’s so beautiful. It can be beautiful if we look for opportunity in the change. For example, death and dying. Practitioners see death as their last opportunity to be enlightened. Not only the last opportunity in this life, but a great opportunity. As the great yogi, Milarepa, said in his song, dying is not just dying – for a yogi, dying is a mini-enlightenment.
We Buddhists talk about dharmakaya, the true nature of mind. And right now we cannot see dharmakaya, or we may see it now and then, indirectly. But at the moment of dying, it is taught that boom! dharmakaya appears to you directly. So if we become familiar with it right now, in our meditation practice, then at the time of dying, we will recognize it. We’ll say “Oh, dharmakaya!” And we can be liberated on the spot. That’s a great opportunity.
Every situation – whether it is a beautiful one or a painful one – carries a hidden opportunity. Impermanence, change, always brings us some kind of opportunity. Once we recognize this, we can work skillfully with impermanence.
How to work with impermanence now
As you see, impermanence is not bad. Impermanence is not our enemy. And, the way to work with impermanence is to be present. In other words: be here, now.
Sometimes we get pulled into the future too much, and we forget to be present. If you forget to be present, you don’t observe what’s happening around you. When we tune out like that, we’re missing the whole experience of now. We miss the whole precious thing, such as being with your child, being with your parents, or being with your partner.
To seize the opportunity, we have to be in the present. Being present is not only applicable in our meditation but for any moment of our daily life. Most accidents happen when we’re not present.
If we succeed in working with impermanence, then we can experience actual success, both in day-to-day life and in our spiritual path. And this is very important for us, especially at this point, as we are entering this new, post-COVID world. As I mentioned earlier, everywhere I go – Seattle, Kathmandu, New York, California, Taipei, Hong Kong, everywhere – people are talking about “going back to normal.” But there’s no such thing as “back to normal,” in my opinion. Let’s not think of going “back to normal” because that will just bring us a lot of suffering.
Let’s enjoy this new post-COVID world and embrace it. We can say, “Okay, let’s see what our new world is like.” Here is our new world, after all of the pandemic challenges. I hope we all can enjoy our world and be happy. I wish you a peaceful mind, joy, and happiness in this post-pandemic world. And don’t torture yourself too much. Remember that any challenge we face is also impermanent, so don’t worry. It will change.
Clouds will pass, and again we will see the blue sky. So don’t worry. The clouds cannot stay in the sky forever. So, relax. Make sure you meditate every day. That will change your world in a positive way.
I try to meditate every day. And so almost every day I do meditation with my daughter. We do between 3 and 5 minutes – it’s up to her. And personally, I can really see a difference in her when she meditates and when she doesn’t.
Meditation is really helpful for coping with impermanence, embracing change. It doesn’t matter how old you are. You can sit for just 3 to 5 minutes like I do with my daughter. Or if you can, do it for longer. It’s fine to sit quietly for just 15 minutes. It will make a positive difference; it will be a welcome change.
The teachings in this article were given by Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche at Nalandabodhi Hong Kong in April 2024.