All Will Pass

It Will Pass

A student went to his meditation teacher and said, "My meditation is horrible! I feel so distracted, or my legs ache, or I'm constantly falling asleep. It's just horrible!"

"It will pass," the teacher said matter-of-factly.

A week later, the student came back to his teacher. "My meditation is wonderful! I feel so aware, so peaceful, so alive! It's just wonderful!"

"It will pass," the teacher replied matter-of-factly.

A short Zen story to help us remember that all things pass.

The reality of impermanence or as I like to think of it, the gift of impermanence serves as a reminder that the only constant in life is change. Change, change and more change. This principle teaches us that nothing is permanent. Just like all good things come and go, the same holds true for all the bad things. Understanding the impermanence of all things is a powerful tool that can help us appreciate what we have right now.

We will experience ups and downs, good days and bad, and all will pass. Everything is temporary. It's always good to remember that our emotions, whether positive or negative, both come to an end. All that is needed is for us to feel and release our emotions. In other words, just experience things and don't get caught up in the "good or bad" of anything. Emotions come and go if we let them. Thoughts come and go if we let them. Change occurs all the time.

The next time you are emotionally upset, endure and remember that it will pass. What a relief to know this. When life is going your way, enjoy the present moment, and remember this too will pass. It is the nature of life. Try not to get stuck on negative emotional states or too attached to the positive ones. Holding onto thoughts and feelings is a major reason why we suffer. We obsess when worried and suffer as a result. We hold on to happy feelings and suffer when they come to an end. What are we to do? Experience things as they come and prepare to release. This practice is key for inner peace and wellness.

Remember nothing is permanent. All we have is the present moment and whether you see it as "good or bad" know that it will pass. "Everything passes."

Thank you for reading!