Good morning, everyone. The theme for today’s talk is remembrance. I was having a hard time finding ideas and topics about this. I kept finding a lot on remembrance regarding people who have just passed away. Not the kind of remembrance topics I was looking for. However, I stumbled upon something that I had not heard of before and it caught my attention.
Now I have a question for you. By show of hand who here has heard about the 5 Remembrances? Thank you. Now by a show of hands who knows what the 5 Remembrances are?
The 5 Remembrances are:
- I am of the nature to grow old. I cannot escape old age.
- I am of the nature to grow ill. I cannot escape sickness.
- I am of the nature to die. I cannot escape death.
- I will be separated from everything and everyone I hold dear.
- My only true possession is my actions.
I had not heard of these before starting my talk. But it interested me. The 5 Remembrances are a middle ground between the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. They are considered the foundation for walking the Noble Eightfold Path.
These five remembrances are simple yet profound reflections, and they are recited to remind ourselves of the impermanence of all things. Each remembrance challenges us to confront the reality of life, urging us to live in a way that acknowledges this truth and cultivates wisdom, compassion, and acceptance.
The first one: I am of the nature to grow old. The first remembrance is the recognition that we are all subject to aging. Our bodies change over time. We age, our health declines, and we get weaker. This is an undeniable fact of life. The Buddha taught that everything is impermanent, and aging is one of the clearest reflections of that impermanence. By acknowledging this truth, we can learn to let go of attachment to youth or physical beauty, understanding that each phase of life has its own unique gifts. Aging is not something to fear, but something to embrace with grace and wisdom.
The second: I am of the nature to grow ill. The second remembrance reminds us that we are all subject to illness. Our health is fragile and constantly changing. Disease, injury, and sickness can come at any time, without warning. Understanding this truth is not meant to bring fear, but to cultivate compassion for ourselves and others. When we experience illness, we can meet it with patience and mindfulness, and when others suffer, we can be more empathetic, offering support and care. This reflection encourages us to take better care of our health while understanding that we cannot control everything.
The Third: I am of the nature to die. The third remembrance is perhaps the most sobering—death is inevitable. Each of us will pass away one day, and we do not know when that will be. The Buddha’s teachings on death urge us not to shy away from this reality but to use the awareness of our mortality to live more fully. Recognizing that life is short helps us prioritize what truly matters, and it encourages us to live with greater urgency in cultivating wisdom, compassion, and kindness. It also reminds us to cherish every moment, knowing that it is fleeting.
When I started researching the 5 Remembrances it explained that the first 3 are the very first struggles that prince Shakyamuni witnessed when he first left the protection of the castle. Each of these 3 remembrances help us to savor the life we have now and not to grasp for permanence. It is when we cling to youth, health and life that we suffer. We focus on worrying about the future instead of focusing on what we have in front of us.
The fourth: I will be separated from everything and everyone I hold dear. The fourth remembrance acknowledges that everything we hold dear, whether it be our possessions, relationships, or achievements, is subject to change and separation. We are born into relationships, and we grow to love those around us—our families, friends, and even pets. However, just as we experience the reality of aging and death, we also face the impermanence of connection. People we love may move away, our possessions may break or be lost, and relationships may change or end. By reflecting on this, we are reminded not to become overly attached or possessive. Instead, we can learn to cherish each moment with our loved ones, appreciating the time we have together.
These 4 Remembrances are all about realizing the truth that change, old age, sickness and death are all unavoidable. By dwelling on these we all focus on things that we cannot control and cannot change.
The fifth: My only true possession is my actions. The final remembrance speaks about our responsibility. It teaches us that we are the owners of our actions. Our thoughts, words, and deeds have consequences, and we are accountable for them. This remembrance encourages us to practice mindfulness and ethical conduct, knowing that our actions shape our future experiences. By understanding that we are the result of our past actions and that our present actions will shape our future, we are empowered to live with intention. We can choose to act with kindness, generosity, and compassion, and as a result, create positive ripples in the world around us. Our actions, thoughts, and words shape our experiences. This remembrance emphasizes personal responsibility and the law of karma — the understanding that the choices we make now will influence our future. It reminds us to act with kindness, mindfulness, and integrity.
The 5th Remembrance is something I am actively trying to teach my son. I always tell him you are allowed to feel any emotion you want in a situation. However, it’s how we react or respond to it that matters. Just because someone makes us mad or sad doesn’t mean we can do the same thing back to them. There are so many other sayings that go with this. Kill them with kindness. An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind. Everything has an equal and opposite reaction. No matter how you say it what we do matters. Everything we do will come back to us. We do good and good continues to come our way. We do something bad and something bad will come our way.
When I was reading about these, I remembered what my mom would tell me and my siblings. “Stop borrowing stress from tomorrow”. Of course, as you get older these kinds of sayings make more sense. I shouldn’t worry about what has yet to happen because I have no control over it. I also read another article that said the 5 Remembrances reiterate the Four Noble truths:
- There is suffering
- There is cause of suffering
- There is a way to end suffering
- The Path to end suffering
There is suffering and the cause of the suffering is that we are focusing on the change, growing old, getting sick and dying. The way to end the suffering is to be in the present. Focus on the now. The path to end the suffering is the Eightfold Path. This is how the 5 Remembrances, The Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold path are all connected.
In summary, the Five Remembrances help us face the realities of life with awareness. They guide us in accepting the impermanence of the world around us while cultivating wisdom and compassion. By contemplating these five truths, we can approach life with more mindfulness, appreciate the fleeting moments we have, and live in a way that fosters peace and harmony both within ourselves and in our relationships with others.
May we all remember these teachings and use them to live more fully, wisely, and kindly. Thank you.