The Five Remembrances

The Beauty of Impermanence

Lessons from the 5 Remembrances and the song: If We Were Vampires by Jason Isbell.
(Check out the version by Noah Kahan and Westley Shultz)

The Fragility That Makes Life Precious

We live in a culture that often avoids confronting the inevitability of loss, aging, and death. Yet, Buddhist teachings offer a path of wisdom through the Five Remembrances. I remember the first time I learned them; it was right after a beautiful sunrise meditation at our Boulder, Colorado retreat, and Bhante Sujatha decided it was a good time to teach the Remembrances.  It was so fitting that we were sitting under a beautiful tree in the fall with all these leaves, gold and brown, ready to shed for the winter, a beautiful symbol of Impermanence. *Side note: Did you know that the color of the monks’ robes comes from fall colors? A reminder of impermanence? I was in awe, not just of the teaching itself, but of the perfect spontaneity of it all, as if the universe had conspired to reveal its wisdom right then and there beneath the golden leaves.  

These teachings remind us of life’s impermanence. Similarly, Jason Isbell’s hauntingly beautiful song “If We Were Vampires” explores how love is deepened by the awareness that our time together is limited. This blog weaves these two teachings together, showing how embracing the fleeting nature of life can help us live more fully, with greater presence and gratitude for those we love.

 The First Remembrance: Aging

“I am of the nature to grow old; there is no way to escape growing old.”

In “If We Were Vampires,” Isbell sings, “It’s knowing that this can’t go on forever.” These words remind us that neither we nor our loved ones will stay young, and we don’t know when our time will be up. While aging may bring wrinkles and gray hairs, it also brings the beauty of shared memories and the wisdom of time. Instead of fearing the passing of years, we can learn to honor each moment, recognizing that the very impermanence of youth makes it precious.

 

The Second Remembrance: Illness

“I am of the nature to have ill health; there is no way to escape ill health.”

The body is fragile, and illness is an inevitable part of life. This truth invites us to care for
our bodies with compassion and to cherish the moments when we and our loved ones are
healthy. The song echoes this when it speaks of fleeting time: “Maybe we’ll get 40 years together.”
Even in health, time is limited, so each day we wake up feeling well is a gift to treasure.

 

The Third Remembrance: Death

“I am of the nature to die; there is no way to escape death.”

The most striking theme in “If We Were Vampires” is the acknowledgment of mortality.
“One day I’ll be gone, or one day you’ll be gone.” This stark truth might seem devastating,
but it also gives love its urgency and sweetness. Without death, time with loved ones might
lose its preciousness. “If death were a joke . . . we’d laugh at all the lovers and their plans,
I wouldn’t feel the need to hold your hand.” Recognizing this, we can choose to show up
fully for the people we love and even forgive a little faster, knowing our time together is finite.

The Fourth Remembrance: Separation

“All that is dear to me and everyone I love is of the nature to change; there is no way to escape being separated from them.”

This teaching reminds us that no relationship is permanent. Life inevitably leads us down different paths or brings loss through death. Isbell captures this poignancy when he reflects that our connections are so precious because they’re temporary. Instead of resisting this truth, we can let it inspire us to express our love freely, mend rifts, and create memories that linger even after separation.

 

The Fifth Remembrance: Karma

“My actions are my only true belongings; I cannot escape the consequences of my actions.”

While life is impermanent, the impact of our actions endures. How we treat others, and the love we offer leave ripples long after we’re gone. This is the thread that ties the remembrances to the song: live fully, love deeply, and act kindly, for these are the legacies we leave behind.
 

Practical Ways to Live Fully in Light of Impermanence

1. Practice Mindful Presence
    Spend time with loved ones without distractions. Be fully present in conversations, meals,
    and shared activities.

2. Cultivate Gratitude Each Day
    Each day, reflect on what you’re grateful for, especially the people and moments that bring joy
    and connection.

3. Meditate on Impermanence
    Take time to reflect on the Five Remembrances. This practice helps soften resistance to how
     short life is and deepens appreciation for the present

4. Express Love and Forgiveness
    Don’t wait to tell someone you love them or to repair a relationship. Remember, tomorrow
    is never guaranteed.

Finding the Beauty in Fleeting

The awareness that life is both devastating and beautiful offers us a profound choice: to live
half-asleep, avoiding pain, or to embrace the fullness of life, with all its joys and sorrows.  
The Five Remembrances and “If We Were Vampires” invite us to choose the latter.
By acknowledging impermanence, we free ourselves to live more deeply, love more fully,
and savor the precious, fleeting moments that make life so achingly beautiful. As Isbell says,
“Maybe time running out is a gift.”

So, let us live today as though it were our last, not in fear but in gratitude for this fragile and wondrous existence

Take time to listen to the song.  It hurts at first, but it gets easier and becomes part of the practice of remembering not to take this beautiful life for granted.