Question

In regards of persons changing continuously and emotions being impermanent, what sense that lifelong commitment make? Are you married in that way?

Answer

Yes! A lifetime's commitment. If we take the Buddha as an example the legend says he was married to Yasodhara for 500 lifetimes. They were developing the Paramis together. So one lifetime commitment doesn't seem very much compared to that! Yes, everything is impermanent, but we don't take that fact as a justification for not being compassionate towards the person we've decided to spend a longer time with. And we can develop ourselves together. Things are impermanent in that we are constantly changing but there is also the possibility to evolve in a lifetime commitment. That is for things to get better, and a commitment that goes also in the spiritual path where you are growing together, helping each other along the path. So marriage in this way with the Buddha as an example of the 500 lifetimes with Yasodhara is quite inspiring to develop the Paramis together.

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