AboutJustin Choo Expertise When in doubt seek it out. All your questions will be answered, and you may not have to agree with the answers. Such is the beauty of Buddhism. You are free to decide. I follow the Theravada tradition. Please view my profile for more details. I have answered more than a thousand questions since joining this category. You are welcome to try me.
Experience I was brought up in the 50's as a Buddhist. For the past 30 years I have read numerous books on Buddhism and listened to numerous talks on Buddhism by well-respected and learned monks and lay teachers. I conduct Buddhist classes for parents of Sunday School children in a Theravada Buddhist Temple.
My teacher was the late Chief Reverend, The Ven. K Sri Dhammananda of The Brickfields Buddhist Mahavihara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. You can view the relevent website in memory of my revered late teacher @
http://www.ksridhammananda.com
Organizations I am a life member of the Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia.
Publications YOU ARE INVITED TO VISIT MY BLOG @
http://lifeislikethat999.blogspot.com/
Published a book called "The Rainbow And The Treasure". It is a compilation of extracts from various sources to introduce Buddhism to beginners. (Currently out of print)
Education/Credentials Bachelor of Commerce And Administration, Victoria University Of Wellington, NZ.(1974)
Question Hello,
I am a student studying buddhism and would like to know what benefits and difficulties might lay buddhists experience in attempting to understand anicca
Answer Hi Nik,
Anicca is the first of the 3 characteristics of existence which the Buddha revealed. Anicca, Dukkha, and Anatta, which are translated as impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, and insubstantiality.
Anicca is a very common trait in life. The most glaring aspect of impermanence in life is death. No being can live forever. Everyone knows it, but many choose to ignore this fact. When we look around us we witness this aspect of impermanence confronting us. The Buddha expounded that all component things are impermanent. Whatever that is impermanent, will cease or expire in no time. Everything in this world is subject to "the arising", "existing for a period" and then "expiring". There is no permanent substance in everything in this world. Everything is in a flux, it comes and ceases.
Knowing this natural phenomenon, we view life as a transient existence. Life becomes more realistic and one is able to flow with the tides of life. One does not become crazy over things, one becomes more willing to let go of one's crazy desires and to reduce one's aversion to the things we hate. We come to realize that we are just insignificant creatures existing just for a very short period of time. There is not much time to waste in hatred and revenge, but to make use of whatever available time we still have, to wise up and lead a harmless, contented, and useful life.
There are deeper aspects of realization of anicca, especially Buddhist meditation, but I think the above comment should be sufficient.
