The Five Remembrances serve as clear reminders of the teaching of impermanence.

The Five Remembrances, as translated by Thich Nhat Hanh: 1) I am of the nature to grow old | There is no way to escape growing old. 2) I am of the nature to have ill-health | There is no way to escape having ill-health. 3) I am of the nature to die | There is no way to escape death. 4) All that is dear to me and everyone I love are of the nature to change | There is no way to escape being separated from them. 5) My actions are my only true belongings | I cannot escape the consequences of my actions. My actions are the ground on which I stand.

The first three remembrances—old age, sickness, and death—are the three forms of suffering that the Buddha himself witnessed and which led him to his path towards enlightenment. The Five Remembrances reiterate the Four Noble Truths, the Buddha’s first teaching after he achieved enlightenment: there is suffering, there is a cause of suffering, and there is a way to end suffering.

The Five Remembrances are contemplations that help us internalize the concept of impermanence. When we reflect on these five points, we come to understand that nothing is permanent, leading to the realization that suffering itself is also temporary. By recalling that we always have the power to choose how we act in the present moment, we are empowered to live bravely.

Reflect on how each of these statements resonates with their own experience and what thoughts and feelings arise when contemplating each one.

• Do we know anyone who doesn't age, get sick, or die?
• Can we identify something or a situation that has remained constant and has never changed?
• How does clinging to youth, health, and life cause us suffering?
• How do these reflections help us stay present and more mindful of the current moment?

Articulate the five remembrances and analyze how each contemplation addresses fundamental human experiences of aging, illness, death, separation, and ethical responsibility. Evaluate how regular reflection on impermanence transforms daily decision-making and creates greater presence and mindfulness in immediate experience.