It is important to have this preliminary stage developed in a proper manner. On continuing the practice of contemplation for some time, there will be considerable progress in mindfulness and concentration. At this high level it will be perceptible that on every occasion of noting, each process arises and passes away at that very moment. But, on the other hand, uninstructed people generally consider that the body and mind remain in a permanent state throughout life, that the same body of childhood has grown up into adulthood, that the same young mind has grown up into maturity, and that both body and mind are one and the same person. In reality, this is not so.
Nothing is permanent.
Everything comes into existence for a moment and then passes away. Nothing can remain even for the blink of an eye. Changes are taking place very swiftly and they will be perceived in due course. On perceiving that everything passes away at the very point of noting, a yogi knows that nothing is permanent. A yogi then knows that this ever-changing state of things is distressing and is not to be desired.