The Art of Zen Living

Something happened last Friday morning that got me to thinking, and I thought I’d share it with you.

If you’ll indulge me for a moment, I’ll set the stage.  I have a birthday coming up, and mom got my car’s windows tinted for me.  For those of you that don’t live in the tropics, down here tinted windows something you really do want to have.

While the car was at the shop, we had some time to spend so we went and got breakfast.

She was telling me that the night before she’d been watching an old home movie from 1986.  My grandparents were in it, and they’re now both gone.  We were also a family then - my sister and I have grown up and moved out, my parents are divorced, and my sister has a family of her own now - the newest member of which is pictured to the left.  Specifically, that’s her “Enough with the pictures Uncle Dan - come and play!” look.  She was right, so that’s exactly what I did!

Mom said it was a little sad to watch it.  There were parts that made her laugh, but it was sad that it was all gone now.  Lost in time.  My mother and I have, in the past, had conversations like this, about the past, and what Once Was.  This time I had a different perspective.  I thought to myself “Yes, life is ultimately unsatisfactory - and the reason is impermanence and change…”

The Buddha told us about this long ago.  So what else did he have to say about it?

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