Anicca (Impermanence) — Nothing Lasts
Theravāda

Anicca (Impermanence) — Nothing Lasts

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Anicca (Pali) or anitya (Sanskrit) is the first of the tilakkhana (three marks of existence) alongside dukkha and anatta, pervading every samskrta (conditioned) dharma without exception. The Visuddhimagga of Buddhaghosa maps the progressive insight into impermanence through the ñana (knowledges) of the vipassana sequence: from udayabbaya-ñana (knowledge of arising and passing) through bhanga-ñana (knowledge of dissolution), where the meditator perceives the kshana (momentary) arising and ceasing of all nama-rupa at increasingly fine temporal resolution. The Anguttara Nikaya records the Buddha's declaration that 'sabbe sankhara anicca' — all formations are impermanent — and the Mahaparinibbana Sutta preserves his final words: 'vayadhamma sankhara, appamadena sampadetha' (all conditioned things are subject to decay; strive with diligence). In the Abhidhamma analysis, each dhamma exists for only a single thought-moment (cittakkhana) before giving way to its successor.

Cross-Tradition Resonances

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impermanencecyclical returntransformation
impermanencecyclical returntransformation
cyclical returntransformationself knowledge
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The Ouroboros

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impermanencecyclical return