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Buddhism not only guides humanity towards righteousness but also enriches lives. Join us to explore this exquisite collection of Buddhist poetry below!
I. Meaningful Buddhist Poems on Impermanence
1. Dust Specks of Impermanence - Wholehearted Harmony
Sitting, contemplating impermanent specks of dust,
Brushing against each other on the bustling paths... rustling,
Which speck ensnares us in pain?
Which one dazzles with illusory colors!
What misconception have we grasped!?
Yet, there we sit, pondering alone,
In joy and sorrow amidst the human journey,
Striving for peace amid myriad uncertainties.
Observing the vastness of worldly affairs,
Time encapsulates memories forgotten, laughter and tears,
We resemble lazy children,
Revisiting a time long gone, lost in reverie!
Preserving ourselves... forever ourselves,
Walking on the path of genuine sentiments,
The world possesses forms, shapes,
Yet only happiness, tranquility bring true joy!
2. Life is Inherently Impermanent – Tùng Trần
Whether one desires it or not, life remains the same,
Flowing steadily along the river of time.
Be it the destitute or the wealthy,
Upon death, both depart with empty hands.
Being warm and well-fed is fortunate indeed,
Preserve a peaceful life with tranquil waves.
Some things occur naturally,
Do not force them, lest regret ensues.
Worthiness is not found in ostentatious luxury,
Only to push oneself into deep abysses.
If the heart desires to avoid sorrow,
Then do not pursue futile desires.
Recognize remorse and acknowledge mistakes,
Remember to amend oneself,
Though material needs are essential for living,
Do not let the bonds of affection crack.
Life and death are eternal laws,
Impermanence is an unalterable truth,
As humans, we are all alike,
In the end, returning to dust.
3. Fame and Gain – Hoàng Trọng
Fame and gain come and go,
Why covet them most or least?
Nights spent restless, hearts in turmoil,
Winning or losing, disputes and toil.
Why harbor grudges, causing mutual suffering?
Carrying past karma into the present,
Life after life, the cycle of rebirth continues endlessly,
Worldly debts cling, how to escape the torment?
Listen to the Buddha's teachings, practice diligently,
Maintain a pure mind so that when
We depart, closing our eyes, the soul is serene,
No longer troubled by worldly affairs.
Let us join forces, together
Building a beautiful world of myriad hues,
Where the golden path spreads across vast seas,
No longer witnessing scenes of sorrow and pain.
4. Impermanence – Nguyễn Hưng
The golden leaf drifts away to distant lands,
The human realm is inherently impermanent,
This body bears the transient fate,
What urges stepping into the misty realms?
For all is but dust,
Pleasure or pain, there's little difference,
Though wealth and gold abound like mountain peaks,
Tomorrow, still, a mere clump of earth.
Be serene, for life is transient,
The waterfall returns to its origin of future lives,
Rejoice for each radiant day,
Why self-inflict suffering?
Then lightly tread like the wind and clouds outside,
No arrogance towards earth and sky,
Casting away fleeting worldly concerns,
Even in parting, the soul finds solace.
Gratitude to the Most High each day anew,
Complete joy through understanding impermanence,
As night fades, awakening to dawn,
Sunlight spreads amidst a thousand fragrances.
5. Life's Journey – Đinh Văn Nhã
Life's stream sometimes rises, sometimes falls,
Drifting, sometimes alone, sometimes together,
At times splendid and flourishing,
At times bitter, distant, near,
Victory, defeat, pitiful plight!
Again, there are times when morning is right, evening wrong,
Tomorrow it's right again
Sometimes dreaming of escaping foolish cycles,
Yet at times unsure of living until tomorrow,
Hoarding potatoes for the future,
In honor or disgrace, one must know the essence of living,
Like yin and yang, opposing fates await.
To live a fulfilled human life,
One must cultivate virtues, nurture resilience,
Through diligent practice and hardship,
Life's torrent flows endlessly.
Drifting into the boundless East Sea,
Life's stream forever shines in glorious splendor!
6. Impermanence – Bách Tùng Vũ
In this world of dust, tears fall countless times,
Amidst the cycle of rebirth, beings are indifferent,
Many souls linger, longing to return,
The heart lingers, yearning for home.
Though knowing Impermanence is the way,
No one is exempt from departure,
Countless souls still lament and grieve,
Regretting worldly passions of yesteryears.
Everyone shall return to the celestial realm,
Whether in wealth or in lifelong toil,
Tears shed as soul departs the flesh,
Merely becoming ephemeral dust.
Be it an unjust death or an ownerless grave,
Reincarnation awaits upon sleep's embrace,
The River of Forgetfulness awaits on the shore,
The Bridge of Oblivion leads to rebirth.
Ask the world, who lives forever?
Who can claim to escape life and death?
Countless spirits depart from the earthly realm,
Will they return to their pristine form?
Everyone eventually faces death, accepting rebirth,
Be it in wealth or in humble fate,
A hundred paths lead back to one realm,
Impermanence then... escapes... Sorrow.
7. The Impermanent Journey – Sky's Pride
Life resembles a dream,
Until we look back, a lifetime of mist,
In this world of debts and dues,
Obligations of love and loyalty, repaid countless times,
Born with empty hands, departing with unchanged fate,
We thought life akin to a game,
Victory and defeat, a bygone era,
Suddenly encountering oneself,
Just a shadow, in the twilight of the world,
Life's reunions end in dispersal,
Wealth, fame, power, mere transient baggage,
Life, cease your endless turmoil,
Return to the earth, the sorrowful journey's end.
If it's already the past,
Let's forgive each other,
All the pain,
Let's consign it to oblivion.
The pain of yesteryears,
Is a barrier on life's path,
If life seeks tranquility,
Let's depart from the past.
Life is a test,
We must traverse it ourselves,
No one can do it for us,
Success or failure lies within us.
Learn to forgive,
Pain will depart,
Embrace love entirely,
Happiness will blossom.
8. The Impermanence of the World – Sky's Pride
Life is like drifting clouds,
A thousand years of bitterness and tears,
How long can one live?
A hundred years, shedding shadows, awaiting the deep abyss.
Human life is like a dream,
Parting comes without warning,
The beauty fades,
Who can hold onto wealth forever?
Where does human life lead?
Impermanence reigns over worldly sorrows,
Life may unite or disperse,
Where is the eternal golden dream?
Return to living with sincerity,
Be like a white lotus in a fragrant pond,
Humans live to love,
Smile, find happiness amidst life's sorrows.
9. Human Life – Sandy Harmony
Human life spans how long?
Depends on fate, why worry?
Suffering and worries, what for?
Let the heart be tranquil, walk lightly.
Whether beautiful and wealthy,
Or ugly and poor, suffering is the same,
Though circumstances differ,
Let the heart not cling to wealth or poverty.
Wealth easily leads to obsession,
Poverty, surviving day by day,
To be human, one must be flexible,
Find inner peace and contentment.
Life's ups and downs are like waves,
If the mind doesn't sink, no wind can disturb,
Victory or defeat is daily,
Worldly gains and losses are common.
Humanity needs compassion,
Don't assert dominance over others,
Expand your vision far and wide,
Compassion and wisdom harmonize human life.
Live with full meaning and love,
Avoid causing unjust grievances,
We all make mistakes,
Karma is thick, virtue is shallow.
Life is not enduring,
Impermanence cannot be predicted,
Rise and fall, honor and disgrace,
Maintain inner peace, don't dwell in sorrow.
We're not so different,
Empathize with all, wish for peace,
Avoid evil, cultivate kindness,
Keep the mind pure, free from greed and desire.
Avoiding indulgence is essential,
Being content with simplicity, not desiring much,
Material wealth and relationships,
If you're greedy, you'll never have enough.
Don't linger in attachment,
Letting go without comparison or preference,
Why indulge in sensual pleasures?
We don't truly possess anything.
Connections arise from karma,
When karma dissipates, what remains is not us?
Why carry burdens and sorrows?
Lightly release, without seeking or grasping,
Always keep the heart tranquil and serene,
Find liberation from the cycle of rebirth.
10. Impermanence – Mount Fuji
Impermanence, a realm of emptiness,
Cyclic existence in the dust of the human world,
Aspire to purity amidst the myriad clouds,
Relax and spread wide the expanse of grace.
Endure through three lifetimes of suffering,
Wandering aimlessly in the abyss of sorrow,
Life's love repaid in kind,
Fleeting joy amidst endless worries.
Four seasons rotate in the heavens and earth,
The ebb and flow of love lost in the waves,
Human life filled with trials and tribulations,
Lonely in the cold wind, the path of destiny remains.
Evening shadows stretch westward,
The heart bears the bitter burden from all sides,
Wealth and fame once captivated,
Bonds of affection once burdened the soul.
Impermanence, a realm of solitude,
Some seek to leave, others enter the game,
Life is full of twists and turns,
Let's cherish the sweetness and beauty.
11. Letting Go - Tường Vân
Abandoning habits hastily,
Speaking and acting without decorum,
Without careful consideration, regret comes too late.
Abandoning habits of intoxication,
Intoxicated by food, sleep, wealth,
Intoxicated by love, alcohol, fame,
Intoxicated by excessive pain day after day.
Abandoning the habit of deceit,
Be an honest person, live uprightly,
Even if others deceive, do not imitate,
Karma will reveal the truth clearly.
Abandoning the habit of anger,
Speaking words of blame leads to loss,
Verbal warfare is very dangerous,
Learn to live in harmony.
Abandoning the habit of sighing,
Complaining about trivial matters only tires others,
Acceptance resolves everything.
Abandoning the habit of arrogance,
Life's ups and downs are like waves,
Impermanence brings constant change,
Live humbly and harmoniously with others.
Abandoning the habit of self-doubt,
Sadness and insecurity add to the sorrow,
Confidence in doing good again,
Don't always carry something with you.
Living With Death - Tran Nhuan Minh
Living with desires, wanting everything,
Dying with nothing, not even a word follows,
The world, pleasure, poverty,
Fame, profit are dreams.
Living in moments of comfort,
Human life is profitable enough,
How many moments of laughter,
That's the reward bestowed by heaven.
Living with the sorrows of days,
Living in hardship with tomorrow's light,
Enduring hunger, enduring clothes, enduring play,
What a wasted life it is.
That death, who has escaped it?
Fate, determined by heaven, who knows?
Being happy, know today,
For life, the risks, the unexpected.
Happiness with adversity, who knows the path,
Creating joy, destroying a thousand sorrows,
No need to hope for excessive wealth,
Days spent tirelessly, from head to tail.
Let the body tire, then die eventually,
Profit in life is knowing how to live happily,
Poor but with a relaxed mind,
Is better than being wealthy and anxious all your life.
It's all because of greed in the end,
Life becomes difficult all year round,
The mind constantly thinking,
The hands only want to grasp and take.
Why not think life is fleeting?
The mirror of the world clearly sees,
Living a life accumulating silver, gold,
Living a life empty-handed gets nothing,
To live is gain, spending is profit,
Dying is loss, both foolish and ignorant,
Only knowing to take, afraid of not being compensated immediately.
Life becomes full of suffering day by day,
Mouth desires, but dare not eat,
Heart still hesitates and worries,
Those considerations weary and subdue.
Why not understand that humans are precious?
Living as if money is a divine spirit,
Allowing money to control oneself,
Truly despicable, worthy of contempt, worthy of laughter.
Among all things, humans are precious,
What is made can be lost in the blink of an eye,
Only one human being,
Once dispersed, where remains for eternity?
Voluntary - Truong Quoc Khanh
If I were a bird, I'd be a white dove,
If I were a flower, I'd be a sunflower,
If I were a cloud, I'd be a warm one,
As a human, I'd die for my homeland.
As a bird, I'd soar high with soft wings,
From south to north, spreading news without breaks,
As a flower, I'd bloom love early,
Uniting countless hearts in blissful peace.
As a cloud, I'd drift across the sky with the wind,
Embracing the ancient greatness with open arms,
As a human, just once when lying down,
Watching my brethren rise, lifting the flag high.
II. Buddhist Poems on Impermanence by Monks
1. Challenges in Life - Thich Tanh Tue
EASY is speaking without thought,
HARD is carefully considering words spoken.
EASY inflicts pain upon others,
HARD is how to mend many wounds!
EASY is understanding Impermanence,
HARD is the heart still clinging to worldly affairs.
EASY is showing personal tolerance,
HARD is forgiving others' mistakes!
EASY is indulging in deep affection,
HARD is longing for eternal love!
EASY is committing wrong deeds,
HARD is learning from those better than oneself!
EASY is trusting others,
HARD is always maintaining one's integrity.
EASY is speaking wise words,
HARD is living by them, embodying eloquence.
EASY is calculating gains,
HARD is taking a step back to yield to one another.
EASY is living in haste, moving swiftly,
HARD is pausing to take a deep breath, knowing when to...
EASY is making promises, full of rhetoric...
HARD is keeping true to one's word, honest and sincere.
EASY is sowing discord,
HARD is self-discipline, mastering oneself.
EASY is achieving victory, glory,
HARD is humility, seeing oneself as small.
EASY to ask for people's addresses,
HARD to find a seat in their hearts.
EASY to speak, hard to be silent,
HARD with light, easy to find darkness.
EASY to stumble and fall,
HARD to rise and overcome oneself.
EASY to know the vastness of heaven and earth,
HARD to know the 'temple of self-reliance' within.
EASY to enjoy the ups and downs,
HARD to quietly reflect on the journey.
EASY to feel sad when losing something,
HARD to cherish and preserve blessings when possessing.
EASY to nurture comfort zone,
HARD to extend compassion beyond sight.
EASY to let days pass by,
HARD to awaken within ourselves for a few hours...
EASY to be born, easy to die in obscurity,
HARD when facing the grave of Wisdom!
EASY to write poetic words,
HARD to dream of a perfect life.
Stop seeking the transient allure,
Easy is sitting down, Hard is conquering the mind.
No matter how determined one may be,
Without facing difficulty, ease... extends endlessly...
Life is but a temporary realm – Thich Nhuan Thuong
For life is fleeting,
Thus live authentically with one another.
If one's life swiftly passes by,
Then grievances cease.
For nothing remains permanent,
Hence, forgive and let go of anger.
If one's heart is forgiving,
Then sorrow dissolves.
For nothing holds on,
So don't bind further.
If there are days and nights,
Then indulge until enlightenment comes.
For life's dreams are fragile,
Hence cherish today.
If worldly affairs revolve,
Then sit quietly in silence.
For the human heart is profound,
So don't exhaust its meaning.
If burdened by worldly karma,
Then release delusions.
For seeking fame and glory,
Embrace the concept of impermanence.
If anyone remains distant,
Then remember your roots.
For those still inexperienced,
Recall ancient words.
If anyone walks in the rain,
Then they understand life's difficulties.
For love amidst storms,
Understand the fluctuating emotions.
If 'Form is Emptiness, Emptiness is Form',
Then... there's no seeking, no clinging.
3. Living Hastily - Thich Tan Tue
Rushing in, rushing out, swiftly fading,
Hurriedly gathering, then hastily parting.
Quick to eat, quick to speak, then quick to breathe,
Hurriedly enjoying, eager to age.
Hastily born, hastily die, swiftly a lifetime,
Hastily laugh, hastily cry, hastily let go.
Hastily love, hastily hate, strangers looking at each other!
Hurriedly seek each other, hurriedly part...
Hastily through many lifetimes, still rushing,
Pursuing happiness at the far end of the sky.
No roses bloom outside the window,
Hurried days, hurried months, hurried years pass by.
So it goes, thousands of autumns still rushing,
The face of old days forgotten.
'Searching for the moon at the bottom of the water' but still swimming,
Hastily awake, hastily asleep, hastily nodding...
Hastily forget, hastily remember, hastily leave, return,
This side, that side, always so far apart!
Does anyone see the footprints hastily revealed?
Stepping out of the 'fire cave', ending the obsession...
III. Buddhist poems on impermanence by Anonymous
1. Emptiness and Non-Self - Anonymous
The body is impermanent
The mind is transient
The dharma is non-self
The wisdom is sublime
Delivering sentient beings
Rescuing the unknowing from suffering
Delivering sentient beings from samsara
The mundane heart is like a stormy sea
The sea of suffering knows no bounds
Drifting in delusion
Clutching onto pain
Where to go?
Return to the shore of enlightenment
The path to liberation
Clear, tranquil, serene, boundless
Letting go within
Is the shore of happiness.
2. A Word of Gratitude - Anonymous
Being human requires a compassionate heart
To extend life's offerings before us
Letting the will surpass material possessions
So we may live authentically together
If unfortunate circumstances befall anyone
Do not think money can buy everything
Do not trade your life, your death for profit
Remember: silver is whiter than lime
What material can change a person's heart?
In the hustle and bustle of life
Hold the rice bowl, engrave the words of our ancestors
Stepping onto the shore, reminiscing the old ferry
To those who help, do not forget to send regards
A word of gratitude is worth a thousand precious gems
With a glance, it replaces everything
Before a kind heart, remember: Thank you!
3. Cycle of Rebirth - Anonymous
Everyone is born to die once,
But death doesn't mark the end
Life will begin anew,
And the green planet will nurture hope once more.
Entering life with empty hands,
Leaving it with empty hands again.
When living, gather not for greed,
But to repay the debts of existence.
The cycle of reincarnation, birth and death,
Life's impermanence is but a temporary illusion.
The five aggregates: 'Form is not different from emptiness.'
Find peace within for a tranquil heart.
Live life without creating karma,
Avoiding the cycle of rebirth's slap,
Here's but a transient realm,
True bliss lies in the Western Heavenly Realm.
4. Law of Cause and Effect - Anonymous
Sow greed, reap suffering,
Sow resentment, reap sorrow.
Plant thorns, get pricked,
Plant fragrant flowers, get jasmine, rose, and lotus.
Sow kindness, harvest sweet fruit,
Sow goodness, reap the round fruit of compassion.
Sow ignorance, reap ignorance,
The laws of nature can't change the logic of life.
Sow noble deeds, ascend to heaven,
Enlighten wisdom, illuminate the lotus throne.
5. Childhood Dreams - Anonymous
I cherish the days of yore,
Childhood, school bells ringing at midday.
Strolling, arranging leaves by the roadside,
Making a small boat to sail dreams.
Innocent with youthful age,
Calm like the resonance of temple bells.
Loving every blade of grass, every flower bush,
Loving nature, the joyful chirping of birds.
Childhood days, truly jubilant,
Innocence untouched by worries.
Then that age passed by,
The warbler flew away into life.
Dusk tilting towards the horizon,
I love reminiscing about my childhood.
Now, affection for humanity,
Living together with the universe, the beloved sky.
From within the transient truth,
Serenity, liberation, steadfastness in storms.
In this article, Mytour has presented to you the finest collection of Buddhist poems about impermanence from all ages. Wishing you a wonderful day!
