The Five Remembrances

(from the Upajjhatthana Sutra)

I am of the nature to grow old.
There is no way to escape growing old.
I am of the nature to have ill-health.
There is no way to escape having ill health.
I am of the nature to die.
There is no way to escape death.
All that is dear to me and everyone I love are of the nature to change.
There is no way to escape being separated from them.
My deeds are my closest companions.
I am the beneficiary of my deeds. My deeds are the ground on which I stand.

Birth will end in death.
Youth will end in old age.
Wealth will end in loss.
Meetings will end in separation.
All things in cyclic existence are transient, are impermanent.

The Buddhas cannot wash our sins with water.
They cannot remove our suffering with their hands.
They cannot transfer their insights to us.
All they can do is teach the Dharma.
I am my own protector.

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18 comments on “The Five Remembrances
  1. marrije says:

    true. though not all that easy to remember, even 2500 years on.

  2. marrije says:

    true. though not all that easy to remember, even 2500 years on.

  3. Lorajean says:

    good reminder. I get so turned around when things change. I hope life is continuing with you and your family.

  4. Lorajean says:

    good reminder. I get so turned around when things change. I hope life is continuing with you and your family.

  5. Cara says:

    Thinking about you and Billy and Thumper…. I’m so sorry.

  6. Cara says:

    Thinking about you and Billy and Thumper…. I’m so sorry.

  7. Reyna says:

    when said and shared, words are deeds. and we too are the beneficiaries of these words and reminders. (thank you.)

  8. Reyna says:

    when said and shared, words are deeds. and we too are the beneficiaries of these words and reminders. (thank you.)

  9. Knittripps says:

    Wise words. Thank you for sharing. Thinking of you and wishing you well.

  10. Knittripps says:

    Wise words. Thank you for sharing. Thinking of you and wishing you well.

  11. Shana says:

    What a wonderful outlook. Warm wishes…

  12. Shana says:

    What a wonderful outlook. Warm wishes…

  13. Cate says:

    Thank you for that emotional glass of water, Cari.

  14. Cate says:

    Thank you for that emotional glass of water, Cari.

2 Pings/Trackbacks for "The Five Remembrances"
  1. […] is to say I’m mourning all of our losses, big and small. Which is to say I need to read the Five Remembrances again. And again. And perhaps […]

  2. […] is to say I’m mourning all of our losses, big and small. Which is to say I need to read the Five Remembrances again. And again. And perhaps […]

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