“This too shall pass” is a great mantra that teaches us the power of impermanence. The essential idea is that no matter what you are currently going through in life, it’s ultimately temporary and will change.
All of our experiences are temporary.
There is a great comfort and inner peace that can be found when we recognize that wisdom.
Every thought is temporary. Every emotion is temporary. Every experience is temporary.
When we develop mindfulness toward the present moment, we can observe this impermanence for ourselves.
Sit and watch your experiences. Notice how thoughts come and go, sensations come and go, emotions come and go.
Nothing seems to stick around or last forever.
Consciousness is always moving forward, like a never-ending movie.
So if you find a particular thought, emotion, or experience to be painful or unpleasant – and you have no power to change it – simply remind yourself that “this too shall pass.”
It won’t last forever. Time and patience are on your side.
When you recognize this transient nature of reality, you can overcome anything.
Because no matter how difficult, unbearable, or impossible a situation may seem, recognize that “this too shall pass,” and that can give you the extra strength and courage to keep going.
This Too Shall Pass: A Lesson in Impermanence
The exact origin of “this too shall pass” is unknown.
Early phrasings can be traced back to Sufi poets during Medieval times, but there are many versions of it throughout different cultures and literature.
This is a popular folktale as told by David Franko from Turkey that is one great illustration of “this too shall pass.”
The Story of King Solomon’s Ring
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“One day Solomon decided to humble Benaiah Ben Yehoyada, his most trusted minister. He said to him, “Benaiah, there is a certain ring that I want you to bring to me. I wish to wear it for Sukkot which gives you six months to find it.”
“If it exists anywhere on earth, your majesty,” replied Benaiah, “I will find it and bring it to you, but what makes the ring so special?”
“It has magic powers,” answered the king.
“If a happy man looks at it, he becomes sad, and if a sad man looks at it, he becomes happy.”
Solomon knew that no such ring existed in the world, but he wished to give his minister a little taste of humility.
Spring passed and then summer, and still Benaiah had no idea where he could find the ring. On the night before Sukkot, he decided to take a walk in one of the poorest quarters of Jerusalem. He passed by a merchant who had begun to set out the day’s wares on a shabby carpet.
“Have you by any chance heard of a magic ring that makes the happy wearer forget his joy and the broken-hearted wearer forget his sorrows?” asked Benaiah.
He watched the grandfather take a plain gold ring from his carpet and engrave something on it. When Benaiah read the words on the ring, his face broke out in a wide smile. That night the entire city welcomed in the holiday of Sukkot with great festivity.
“Well, my friend,” said Solomon, “have you found what I sent you after?”
All the ministers laughed and Solomon himself smiled. To everyone’s surprise, Benaiah held up a small gold ring and declared, “Here it is, your majesty!”
As soon as Solomon read the inscription, the smile vanished from his face. The jeweler had written three Hebrew letters on the gold band: gimel, zayin, yud, which began the words “Gam zeh ya’avor” — “This too shall pass.”
At that moment Solomon realized that all his wisdom and fabulous wealth and tremendous power were but fleeting things, for one day he would be nothing but dust.”
What has the power to make a sad man happy and a happy man sad? A gold ring with “this too shall pass” engraved.
This story touches on a much deeper wisdom behind “this too shall pass.” For it not only teaches us the impermanence of the “bad” in life, but also the impermanence of the “good.”
Life on Earth is impermanent (including all of our physical possessions). That can make a person “happy” or “sad” depending on their perspective or how much they enjoy their lives in general.
For a King, it would be a very humbling realization. Recognizing that all of their power, status, and material riches are ultimately impermanent in the grand scheme of things.
However, learning the wisdom of impermanence can make one more appreciative of all the “good” in their lives as well. It can also motivate you to become a better person on Earth.
Because you have limited time to enjoy and cherish your life, that makes it all the more valuable.
Learn to be grateful for things while you have them. Imagine what life would be like without them to get a taste of how fortunate you are.
When you realize there is more to life than clinging to material things – which will inevitably pass – that allows you to focus on the more important things in life: your relationships and how you treat others.
In this way, the lesson of “this too shall pass” can also motivate us to become more kind, charitable, and selfless.
More Wisdom on Impermanence
As mentioned before, the wisdom of “impermanence” can be found in many different cultures, religions, and philosophies.
In Buddhism, the idea of impermanence is known as anicca and it’s one of the three marks of existence…
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“Impermanence (anicca) means that all conditioned things (saṅkhāra) are in a constant state of flux. Buddhism states that all physical and mental events come into being and dissolve. Human life embodies this flux in the aging process and the cycle of repeated birth and death; nothing lasts, and everything decays. This is applicable to all beings and their environments.”
According to Buddhism, ignorance of this impermanence is what leads to unnecessary pain and suffering.
Without this wisdom, we often cling to things as if they are permanent and everlasting – which is bound to lead to disappointment and sadness when those things inevitably pass.
In Greek Philosophy, the idea of impermanence is best described in Heraclitus’ writings as Panta Rhei or “everything flows.”
This is encapsulated in his most famous quote…
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“No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.”
This touches on not only the impermanence of our world and external conditions, but also the impermanence of our self in general.
“He’s not the same man” illustrates the idea of a dynamic self (you are always changing), which is a fundamental idea I highlight when it comes to self-improvement and self-growth. We change a lot more than we realize.
When you start to find commonalities between different philosophies, that often means they are touching on a deep universal truth.
The wisdom of “impermanence” is one of those core insights that has been observed and articulated by many different thinkers throughout history.
Accepting Impermanence
Impermanence is an unavoidable aspect of reality, so it’s important we acknowledge it and accept it.
When we remind ourselves the wisdom of impermanence – in face of both the “good” and “bad” – we are better prepared to navigate the inevitable “ups” and “downs” in life.
The lesson of impermanence, when applied correctly, can limit the suffering in life; because one can experience the moment as it is – not clinging to good or running from bad – but accepting all of life with calm and equanimity.
There is a great power in that acceptance and understanding of reality.
It teaches you how to appreciate the moment when things are “good,” and accept and let go quicker when things are “bad.”
Ultimately, impermanence teaches you how to be a wiser and happier person.
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