Impermanence in Buddhism: Anicca and Shunyata

             Anicca

·        Anicca is the teaching that everything is impermanent and in a constant state of flux. Impermanence is demonstrated in every aspect of human life: ageing, sickness and death are all as a result of impermanence. Impermanence also applies to human relationships, and one’s status, as in the next life one could be reborn into a completely different form. This is the basis of the First and Second Noble Truth. Anicca does not just apply to life itself, but also feelings and experiences - something that we crave and desperately desire will later becoming boring and lose its allure, humans can never be satisfied with what they have, and will constantly crave for more. Craving (Tanha) is therefore linked to anicca, as humans crave permanence, and when they do not experience this they suffer.

·        The personal expression of anicca is anatta (see below)

·        Anicca is intricately linked with dukkha: humans suffer because they crave permanence, but they do not realise that permanence is impossible in the constantly changing world. The Buddha describes anicca as "grasping", because humans are continually and desperately hoping that something will remain permanent when this is impossible.

Shunyata

·        The concept of anicca has been developed further by Mahayana Buddhists, who go so far as to say that not only is everything impermanent, but everything is empty of inherent existence. This means that nothing has any true nature when considered on a base (molecular) level. This view is renowned for being extremely complex, and monks may dedicate their whole lives to trying to understand it through vipassana mediation and study.

·        Mahayana Buddhists believe that the entire universe is made up of tiny, impermanent particles, and that these particles are called dharmas. They argue that dharmas are empty of inherent existence, meaning that nothing can truly exist permanently and that names and concepts within conventional reality are all meaningless and empty.

·        Mahayana Buddhists believe that it would be impossible for one to live their life and be constantly aware of shunyata, and that on some level one must function on a “conventional” level where they act as if things are not all empty. This is why people name things and interact with other people in meaningful ways. However, on the “ultimate” level, shunyata is true, and one will understand this upon gaining enlightenment.