The Three Marks of Existence
Buddhists believe that there are three characteristics that are common across everything in life. These are known as the Three Marks of ExistenceIn Buddhism these are impermanence (anicca), dissatisfaction or suffering (dukkha), and non-self (anatta). They are characteristics shared by all humans.. The Three Marks of Existence are important as they can help Buddhists to achieve Nirvana (also spelt Nibbana)An indescribable state, held by Buddhists to be the ultimate goal of religious practice, involving breaking free from the cycle of samsara. and end suffering. They are called dukkha, anatta and anicca.
Mark of Existence | Meaning | Explanation |
Dukkha | Frustration or dissatisfaction (often understood as suffering) | Life does not necessarily provide people with what they want and things are always changing. Therefore, people usually do not achieve complete satisfaction as everything has limitations, which causes them to be dissatisfied. |
Anatta | No soul | There is no fixed sense of self because everything is constantly changing. Another way of expressing this is the idea that people have no soul. |
Anicca | Impermanence | Things in life are always changing. Nothing stays the same as everything is subject to change. |
Mark of Existence | Dukkha |
---|---|
Meaning | Frustration or dissatisfaction (often understood as suffering) |
Explanation | Life does not necessarily provide people with what they want and things are always changing. Therefore, people usually do not achieve complete satisfaction as everything has limitations, which causes them to be dissatisfied. |
Mark of Existence | Anatta |
---|---|
Meaning | No soul |
Explanation | There is no fixed sense of self because everything is constantly changing. Another way of expressing this is the idea that people have no soul. |
Mark of Existence | Anicca |
---|---|
Meaning | Impermanence |
Explanation | Things in life are always changing. Nothing stays the same as everything is subject to change. |