Rubin Museum of Art

Impermanence

The idea that everything is temporary, constantly changing, and moving through stages of development, decay, and dissolution. Impermanence is a reminder to avoid strong attachments and focus on the present moment. 

Art 58 Spiral 23

Tibetan Sheep Bone Prayer Beads

Tibet, date unknown

Tibetan Human Bone Prayer Beads

Tibet, 18th or 19th century

Tibetan Elephant Stomach Prayer Beads

Tibet, 19th century

Skull prayer beads

Korea, 20th century

Skull cup with Base

Tibet, 18th - 20th century

Nepal, ca. 18th century

Leg Bone Trumpet (Kang Ling)

Tibet, 18th-19th century

Ivory Prayer Beads

Tibet, early 19th century

Human Cranium Prayer Beads

Tibet, 18th or 19th century

Human Cranium Prayer Beads

Tibet, 18th or 19th century

Illustrated Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th century

Ivory prayer beads

China, Late 19th century

Ivory Prayer Beads

Tibet, early 19th century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

Human Bone Prayer Beads

Tibet, 18th or 19th century

Human Cranium Prayer Beads

Tibet, Date unknown

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

A Folio from a Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)

Mongolia, 19th Century

Finger Bone Prayer Beads

Tibet, Date unknown

Bone Prayer Beads

Tibet, early 1970's

Our True Nature of Mind

Harnessing the wisdom of emptiness to generate compassion

Buddhist Perspectives Buddhism Interviews Magazine

Mindfulness Meditation with Victoria Davis

Theme: Impermanence

Mindfulness Meditation

Mindful of Race

How wise awareness can help us meet the rough edges of racial distress

Mindfulness Buddhist Perspectives Activism Healing Magazine

Emotional Rescue

To be fully alive, embrace your ever-changing brain

Science Contemporary Art Forms Magazine

Lee Mingwei in Measure Your Existence

A series on the artists from the exhibition

Contemporary Art Forms

Meiro Koizumi in Measure Your Existence

A series on the artists from the exhibition

Contemporary Art Forms

Shilpa Gupta in Measure Your Existence

A series on the artists from the exhibition

Contemporary Art Forms

The Science of Miracles

When it comes to healing, much of our physical reality is created in our minds.

The Way of the Cosmos

Finding your place in the universe. Literally.

Science Magazine

Tehching Hsieh in Measure Your Existence

A series on the artists from the exhibition

Contemporary Art Forms

Impermanence Can Set Us Free

How Buddhism encourages us to embrace the instability of life

Scholarly Perspectives Buddhism Magazine

The Returned: When Death Is Not the End

In Tibetan tales and popular culture the dead have a way of coming back with a purpose

Pop Culture Buddhism Magazine

I Love You, I Love You Not

Navigating change in romantic relationships

Personal Perspectives Relationships Magazine

A Manual for the Momentary: DIY Rituals from Reimagine End of Life

Step-by-step instructions toward healing, resilience, and action

Environment Activism Healing How-tos Magazine

A Stunning Spectacle of Astonishing Things Happening

The renowned theater and opera director Peter Sellars discusses his passion for bringing a two-thousand-year-old Buddhist sutra to the stage

Female Power Buddhism Contemporary Art Forms Interviews Magazine

A one-act play maps identity in a changing world

Contemporary Himalayan Life Creative Writing Relationships Magazine

Intangible Connections Between You and Me: An Interview with Lee Mingwei

The artist reflects on the lasting impact of an early memory and his mother's gift

Contemporary Art Forms Interviews Magazine

Why preserve art when nothing lasts forever

Buddhism Contemporary Art Forms Traditional Himalayan Art Magazine

We Are All Steadily Heading Toward Death: Taryn Simon and Photography

An artist’s system for mapping blood, time, and narrative

Contemporary Art Forms Photography Magazine

Life, Interrupted

Early onset Alzheimer's forces an artist and teacher to distinguish between letting go and giving up

Personal Perspectives Magazine

Can technology help us on our spiritual quest, or are we just phoning it in?

Technology Mindfulness Magazine

Change and Continuity: Contemplating Impermanence

Balancing love and loss with music and meditation

Healing How-tos Creative Writing Music Magazine

A Royal Duel in the Natural World

When it comes to survival of the fittest, change is the only constant

Environment Scholarly Perspectives Science Magazine