Rev. Sugiyama On The Nature Of Change Dharma in the Desert

There is that old Buddhist saying that “you can’t step into the same river twice.” A simple saying, but still a profound one, while we might call it the same river, while we might give it a name that does not change, it’s never the same water, and more than that, the causes and conditions surrounding the river are always different from moment to moment. In this sense, it’s only the same river in our minds, but never in reality. Everything is always changing and constantly in a state of flux and this is a realization that can bring us great pain, but I think also profound joy as well.

That’s kind of at the heart of today’s talk, which focuses on the traditional Buddhist idea of changes and impermanence, both in our lives and in a larger perspective of community. Today’s speaker is Sensei Lynn Sugiyama, who has served as the Kyoshi minister at our temple for the last five years.