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Jun 4, 2023

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Image Credit: Zina Deretsky / National Science Foundation via Wikimedia Commons

The dictionary definition of the word ‘permanent’ reads: “lasting or intended to last or remain unchanged indefinitely”. Permanence would be the indefinite state of the thing in question that remains unchanged. If this is remotely possible it would go against every law of nature, for a thing to remain unchanged from its point of existence to when it stops to exist, as I write this, I have seen the loopholes in trying to even make sense of the concept of ‘permanence’.

As our existence spans as humans, change is what we would rather not have in most situations, but alas, an inevitability we can do nothing about, however, we make routines and life adjustments in the belief that permanence may abound, but even that in itself stands as a proof of the non existence of permanence. I will keep this quite short as there isn't much to convince a formidable intellectual about the broad concept of which I am writing about.

Humans are ruled by their desires, desires to belong and believe in something, to have and be part of something, be it religious, scientific, ideas or even social circles, our yearning to be part of and be recognised has been innately implanted in our core by nature or a higher power (for those who believe in such), we seek to make permanent the experiences and patterns that have reinforced us positively by experience and work towards changing the ones that have proved negetive, but permanence is an illusion and we can only have the experience be it what, for a moment in time and as it is said “time has a way of showing us what really matters”.

In the grand scheme of the universe, nothing is truly permanent. All things are subject to change, transformation, and eventual decay. Stars are born, evolve, and eventually die. Mountains erode over time, and even seemingly solid objects break down at the atomic and molecular levels.

On a more personal level, our human experience is also filled with impermanence. Relationships come and go, and for the relationships that eventually stick, emotions will fluctuate and circumstances change. The world around us is constantly shifting, and we ourselves are continuously evolving.

However, while nothing may be eternally fixed, the perception of “permanency” can still hold significance in our lives. We often create a sense of stability and security by establishing routines, traditions, and long-term commitments, but like I earlier mentioned, our minds like to have the sense of being in control, our minds love to hold on to illusions, illusions we trick ourselves into believing are not, in the long run however, the illusion of permanency can provide us with a sense of grounding and comfort in an ever-changing world.

Moreover, some aspects of our existence do exhibit a degree of relative permanence. For example, certain natural laws and principles remain constant over time, providing a framework for scientific understanding. In a more personal sense, memories and their impact on our identities can persist, even if they may evolve or fade over time. As I go on writing I find myself in a ‘catch-22', as I have shot myself in the foot multiple times, I may just end up without one. So while the notion of permanency may be transient and ultimately illusory, it serves important functions in our lives and in our understanding of the world; Recognising the impermanence of things can encourage us to appreciate the present moment, embrace change, and adapt to new circumstances.

The demand for permanence in every area of our existence is the cause of human misery_UG Krishnamurti

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