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The idea of Impermanence
Prof. Madhao S. Ranadive
According to Jainism, everything is impermanent' in the worldly existence. One who takes birth in any being, is necessarily destroyed, is the universal rule?. The handsome attractive body is impure and is the source of misery and severe suffering?. It becomes ugly by disease and old age*. The glorious youth is destroyed like the water dripping from the folded palms5. The Goddess of WealthLaksmi, like a faithless beloved, does not stay and stable even with meritorious powerful young monarch. She does not feel pleasure in the company of anybody. She only. stays a couple of days and goes to another's house. Wealth is seen as if in dream. All pleasures are destroyed in no time like the streak of lightening'. The sensual enjoyments are not satisfied. They only increase lust. Their result is very dangerous like the poisonous Kimpaka fruit. The living being suffers death in its mother's womb, at the time of birth, in delicate childhood, in the prime of youth or in old age as if it is an unbaked earthen poto. Thus life, youth, wealth, body and all other worldly things are fickle like the water sticking the petals of lotus.10
We find the characteristic of impermanence (Aniccāņuvekkhā or Addhuvānuvekkhā ) of Jainism is similar to the reflection of fickleness (Aniccalakkhanā ) of Buddhism.
According to Buddhism, nothing is everlasting. Everything is momentary and liable to destruction. There is birth and death, growth and decay, union and separation. The worldly pleasures are temporary like the swings. The lives are as fickle as the waves in ocean. The body is similar to the mirage. One's charm, youth, wealth and the union with dear persons are as fickle as the streak of lightening". The mighty lordly elephant, namely cruel Death, without showing pity towards those who are suffering from severe diseases, those who are overpowered by unbearable old age, those who are young delicate maids and youths, those who are small boys and girls, who are yet given to play, incessantly destroys the whole world like the forest conflagration, that burns the entire forest without any break. 12
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