At first, we may react to the truth of our precious impermanent body by grasping even more tightly to it. When we understand the big gap between what we want and how things actually work, we may feel resigned to begrudgingly accept that everything – including our own body and those of our loved ones – changes, dissolves, and dies.

But impermanence isn’t just defined by decay, rot, and disintegration. Impermanence allows us to access the diamonds and see more than just the mud. Our neurotic, limited, confused sense of self is not anchored inside us. Our patterns of self-denigration, grasping, anger, and anguish are also impermanent. Because of impermanence, we can change – if we want to. But we do not have all the time in the world. When the recognition of impermanence shakes us into accepting the certain demise of our body, then we really aspire to make the most of our life. The truth of impermanence becomes the wind at our backs urging us not to squander the precious opportunity that we have right now.

Mingyur Rinpoche

from the book Turning Confusion into Clarity: A Guide to the Foundation Practices of Tibetan Buddhism

Read a random quote or see all quotes by Mingyur Rinpoche.

Further quotes from the book Turning Confusion into Clarity:

• Recognition of subtle shifts in mental behavior
• Befriending the monkey mind
• There is no absolute bad karma
• The real obstacle to resting meditation
• The student’s responsibility
• Becoming the awareness
• The Four Considerations for Choosing a Teacher
• You are discovering yourself
• The mind of letting go
• Rejoicing
• Freedom exists within our very own mind
• What creates samsara
• We are born buddhas
• The very first sign of waking up
• Recognition
• Not a substitute for practice
• Diligence
• Turning toward awakening
• Ordinary sangha