Why are you so attached to relationships?

Guru: Let’s take your own family.

Tom: Okay.

Guru: When did you have your family?

Tom: After I got married, I’ve my wife. Then six years later, I got my first son. Two years later, my second son, and three years later, my third son.

Guru: So your family consists of you, your wife and three sons.

Tom: Correct.

Guru: Where was your family before you were married?

Tom: The family was not formed yet, and some of them were not even born.

Guru: So we could say the family didn’t exist.

Tom: Yes, I suppose you could say that.

Guru: Where will the family be say in 100 years time?

Tom: I suppose all of us would have left our bodies then.

Guru: So we could say the family won’t exist.

Tom: Yes, I suppose you could say that.

Guru: So there was no family before, and there won’t be any family after.

Tom: Yes, I suppose you could say that too.

Guru: Do you see the temporal nature of the family?

Tom: Yes, I see the impermanence.

Guru: In fact, impermanence applies to all relationships.

Tom: Yes, all relationships are impermanent.

Guru: So why are you so attached to relationships?