Impermanence

When we look at the question of impermanence--whether in terms of the infinitely large universe or the smallest submicroscopic particle yet discovered--the inescapable conclusion is that everything that exists is in a perpetual state of change. Everything is impermanent. Period. This universal characteristic of impermanence (anicca in Pali; anitya in Sanskrit) explains why the root cause of all dukkha is craving: Everything that we crave is impermanent and will pass away. And so will "we." Korean Zen master Seung Sahn emphasizes this in The Compassion of Zen when he writes: "'Insight into impermanence' is the Buddha's most basic teaching. He taught this first because impermanence is the basis of every kind of suffering that we experience."

---The Beginner's Guide to Walking the Buddha's Eightfold Path - Jean Smith---