Indeed, even the slogans on the main roads say “We live but once!” but in fact this is not so. As sentient beings with strong karmic imprints, we will continue to take rebirth in samsara over countless lifetimes; however, without practice, we will only end this life in spiritual decline. As you know, beings who take rebirth in the lower realms – even in the most favorable animal realm – do not have a chance to practice Dharma, let alone hear the sacred designations and mantras of the buddhas. Beings in the hungry ghost and hell realms are even less likely to have this chance. Therefore, however busy or difficult it may be, we must still seize the moment to practice. If we forgo this most propitious opportunity, we cannot be sanguine about coming back as human beings again.

- Quote from The Four Seals of Dhama, "Summation"

As in any practice, we must first know its underlying concept. It is only after full apprehension of the concept that practice can proceed. Without right understanding, our practice is blind. Without practice, right understanding is also useless. Hence, one complements the other; each is indispensable. We can eradicate our afflictions and attain liberation only with the perfect union of the two.

- Quote from The Four Seals of Dhama, "Summation"

Momentary Impermanence is the basis of continuous impermanence. All composite phenomena are impermanent in that they are momentary: the moment they come into existence, they disintegrate. In other words, whatever is created is annihilated in the same instant.

From a macro perspective, all things that are created abide in the world for a time before they disintegrate – the process of arising and ceasing cannot be instantaneous. However, in examining phenomena on a microcosmic level, we discover all things arise and cease at the same time.

- Quote from The Four Seals of Dhama, "All Phenomena Lack Self-Existence"

Sakyamuni Buddha once said, “Among all footprints, the elephant’s tracks are most reliable; among all thoughts, the concept of impermanence is most sacred.”

In what way are the elephant’s tracks most reliable? The elephant will only choose a safe path to tread, not a dangerous one. If we follow the elephant’s tracks, we will reach our destination safely.

Why is the concept of impermanence most sacred? By reflecting on continuous impermanence, we develop the motivation to practice. When our practice becomes lax, just thinking about impermanence — in life and in all worldly things — generates a strong desire to practice. If we practice momentary impermanence, it will be the basis for realization of no-self. This is because what is perceived to be “I” cannot exist when change is happening moment to moment. The realization of emptiness and no-self will come after a period of practice. Therefore, we must practice impermanence, and with practice, attain progress.

- Quote from The Four Seals of Dhama, "All Phenomena Lack Self-Existence"

When our visualization practice reaches a certain stage, we become very conscious of subtle matter and can observe it as clearly as if it were under a microscope. For instance, in examining the wall, we can clearly see each brick, each speck of dust in the brick, the space within the dust, the arising and ceasing of each particle, and so forth — like taking a picture with a high-speed camera. The entire world is an illusion in that moment; all phenomena come into being, abide, and cease to exist within the illusion. Like in the Heart Sutra, “form does not differ from void, void does not differ from form; form is thus void, void is thus form,” arising and ceasing are the same thing.

- Quote from The Four Seals of Dhama, "All Phenomena Lack Self-Existence"

In Buddhism, “composite phenomena” are all things — whether physical matter, mental factors, or their respective activities — that arise from causes and conditions and are subject to cause and effect. “All composite phenomena are impermanent” means all things that depend on causes and conditions for their arising are impermanent.

- Quote from The Four Seals of Dhama, "All Phenomena Lack Self-Existence"

The Three Dharma Seals and the Four Dharma Seals are actually the same thing since the first three seals are the practice, while the last seal is the result. The first three are the cause, the fourth its effect. By practicing the first three seals, we can reach the state of nirvana.

- Quote from The Four Seals of Dhama, "Summation"

There are three main reasons sentient beings perpetuate in samsara: first, clinging to impermanence as permanence; second, seeing activities that are inherently unsatisfactory as joyful; third, mistaking a non-existent self for a truly existent self. With these three forms of attachment, good and bad karma is created. With good karma, beings take rebirth in the upper realms of the gods and human beings; with bad karma, beings take rebirth in the lower realms such as hell, unable to transcend samsara and attain liberation.

Actually, the cause for liberation arises inside the self, not outside. Here we are referring not to our body but to our thoughts or mind. By overcoming the three forms of attachment, we can be free of mental afflictions and bondage; if these three forms of attachments are not eradicated, liberation cannot be attained.

How do we overcome this attachment? Not by burning incense, praying, or prostrating to the buddhas! Not by supernatural powers! The only way is to realize wisdom. Why is wisdom the only method that works? Because all three forms of attachment are basically manifestations of ignorance. Just as we use light, the opposite of darkness, to dispel darkness, we use wisdom, the opposite of ignorance, to dispel ignorance; all other methods are ineffective. Wisdom here denotes insight that fully apprehends impermanence, suffering, and selflessness. Although the practices on impermanence and suffering appear simple, they are essential to the path of liberation and must therefore be undertaken. By relying on these three types of wisdom, we can cut through the three forms of attachment that bind us to samsara. There is no reason liberation cannot be attained under the circumstance.

- Quote from The Four Seals of Dhama, "Summation"

What is inner impermanence? The term “inner” denotes sentient beings. The sentient beings referred to here are not plant life but living beings that can experience suffering and happiness.

Inner impermanence can also be classified as continuous or momentary.

Continuous impermanence is easy to understand, like when we undergo successive rebirths as a human or god in the previous life, as a human in this life, and as a human or animal in the next life; or when we experience the various changes within this lifetime, i.e., birth, infancy, childhood, youth, manhood, aging, and death. These changes which we can clearly observe not only in ourselves but also in other beings constitute continuous impermanence.

Momentary impermanence denotes the arising and ceasing that take place each instant in our body and mind as in the world outside.

- Quote from The Four Seals of Dhama, "All Phenomena Lack Self-Existence"