Embracing Impermanence
Each spring, the magnolia tree bursts into bloom, its delicate petals unfurling in breathtaking splendor. For a fleeting moment, it graces the world with its beauty, standing as a symbol of nature’s exquisite artistry. And yet, just as swiftly as it arrives, the bloom fades, its petals drifting gently to the ground. This cycle, so brief yet so profound, offers us a powerful lesson in impermanence - a truth that echoes through the teachings of Patanjali and the philosophy of yoga.
“The wise person (vivekinaḥ) understands that suffering (duḥkhaiḥ) occurs in all (sarvaṁ) living things due to constant change (pariṇāma), desire to repeat past experiences (tāpa), a conditioned mind set (saṁskāra) and the quality of change in nature.”
In the Yoga Sutras (II.15), Patanjali reminds us that even the most pleasurable things in life can be the source of our deepest suffering because we eventually must let them go. The magnolia bloom, though dazzling, does not last. It is this very transience that makes it so precious. If the magnolia tree were to bloom endlessly, we might take its beauty for granted. Instead, its short-lived brilliance urges us to be fully present, to appreciate the moment without clinging to it.
And yet, as humans, we long for consistency. We seek stability in an ever-changing world, craving the predictable because it reassures us - it keeps us ‘safe’. But life is an endlessly unfolding cycle of transformation. Our suffering does not stem from impermanence itself but from our resistance to it. When we hold too tightly to what is meant to change - whether it be a cherished possession, a relationship, or even our own youth - we set ourselves up for inevitable pain.
When we are in suffering we often lose sight of the lifeline that is impermanence and instead we create a false and often very strong belief that this pain is forever, that we will never find our way out. If we grasp onto this for too long, we start to bond with the suffering and assimilate it as part of our identity. Then the very notion of letting the suffering go can propagate a new suffering – the suffering of losing what we have come to identify as self. We cast out this story and many other stories about self like anchors, in the hope that we will arrest the ever-changing tide of impermanence yet it is this very resistance that sinks us deeper into pain.
Patanjali’s first sutra, “Atha yoga anushasanam,” or “Now is an exposition on yoga,” emphasises the power of the present moment. This is the invitation: to turn our awareness to the now, to witness our breath, our thoughts, and our emotions as they arise and pass, just as the magnolia tree blooms and fades. Through this awareness, we begin to loosen our grip on the temporary and connect with the eternal - the deeper essence that remains untouched by change.
In day-to-day life, this practice can be challenging. We get caught up in the small disappointments - the missed appointments, the lost earrings, the never-ending cycle of laundry. And in the bigger ones - the loss of loved ones, lovers returning to strangers, friendships becoming more and more distant. But when we embrace impermanence, we recognize that each of these moments, like the magnolia blossom, is part of the ever-unfolding tapestry of life. We learn to mourn a loss fully while also understanding that, in the grand scheme, it is but a passing petal in the wind. The price of love, is grief.
Instead of fearing change, we can learn to flow with it, to see the beauty in both the blooming and the falling away. The magnolia does not resist its petals dropping; it surrenders to the rhythm of nature. Similarly, when we embrace impermanence, we find freedom. We stop clinging to what was and fearing what will be, and instead, we fully immerse ourselves in the richness of what is.
The next time you see a magnolia in bloom, pause for a moment. Take in its beauty, knowing that it will not last forever. Let it be a reminder to cherish each experience, each breath, and each moment with open hands and an open heart. For it is in letting go that we truly come to appreciate the fullness of life.
