Birth – Abiding – Decay – Cessation

Birth – Abiding – Decay – Cessation describes the natural cycle of all phenomena in Buddhist teaching.
Everything—whether physical objects, emotions, relationships, or thoughts—follows this pattern.

1️⃣ Birth (Arising)

• The moment something comes into existence

• A person, an idea, a project, an emotion

• Example: a new job begins, an idea arises in the mind

👉 Nature: things arise due to causes and conditions

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2️⃣ Abiding (Continuing)

• The phase of relative stability or growth

• Things appear steady and lasting

• Example: work flows smoothly, relationships feel harmonious

👉 Nature: abiding is temporary—nothing truly stands still

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3️⃣ Decay (Deterioration / Change)

• The stage of decline or transformation

• Things are no longer the same as before

• Example: markets shift, emotions fade, the body weakens

👉 Nature: all conditioned things are impermanent

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4️⃣ Cessation (Ending / Dissolution)

• The ending of a form or state

• Not absolute disappearance, but transformation

• Example: a project ends, a relationship concludes, a thought dissolves

👉 Nature: cessation is not annihilation—it is the condition for new arising

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🌿 Why Understand Birth–Abiding–Decay–Cessation?

• To let go when things are at their peak

• To suffer less when things begin to decline

• To fear less when endings occur

• To allow new beginnings to emerge

💬 Suffering does not come from impermanence,
but from wanting what is temporary to last forever.

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🔄 Modern Applications

• Work & career: no role or project lasts forever → prepare to adapt

• Finance: cycles of rise and fall → manage risk wisely

• Emotions: joy and sorrow arise and pass → don’t identify with them

• Practice: seeing the cycle clearly brings ease and freedom

MarketSense AI

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