The Three Marks of Existence

• Three Marks of Existence

  Dukkha, Anicca, Anatta.
• Dukkha 


  Suffering.
• Suffering 


  The state of undergoing pain, distress, or hardship.
• Seven States of Suffering: Physical: birth, old age, sickness, death.

  Mental: separation from someone/ something you love, contact with someone/something you dislike, not being able to achieve your desires.
• Dukkha-dukkhata 


  Ordinary suffering - physical and mental pain.
• Viparinama-dukkha 


  Suffering due to change/ impermanence.
• Anicca 


  Impermanence.
• Impermanence: The idea that all things have and end and everything is temporary.
• Story of Kisa Gotami: Kisa Gotami's child died young leaving her devastated. The Buddha told her she should visit all the houses in the village and ask for a mustard seed from any house in which no one had died. She could not find such a house and eventually realised that death is inescapable and buried her child. The idea that everyone experiences suffering and an awareness of impermanence reduces suffering and makes it more bearable.
• Anatta 


  No fixed self, no soul.
• No-Self: The doctrine that there is no independent, eternal self or soul underlying personal existence. This means people can and do change in life.