The Five Remembrances

old worn boots: inevitability — Photo by Oziel Gomez

How often do we contemplate the inevitability of our own mortality?

The Buddha taught that as humans, we are of the nature to grow old, to get sick, to die, to become separated from all things dear to us, and that our actions are our only true belongings. These teachings, called the Five Remembrances, point directly to the fragile and impermanent nature of life.

As Zuisei says in this talk on the Five Remembrances: “This teaching is not meant to bring us down—quite the opposite. It’s meant to remind us of the preciousness of human life. It’s meant to give us a way to fully appreciate the gift that we’ve been given, so that we can live completely. So we can keep our eye on what’s most important.”

This talk was given by Zuisei Goddard.

Explore further

01 : Five Remembrances

02 : Vaster Than Empires and More Slow by Ursula Le Guin

03: Burning the Old Year by Naomi Shihab Nye