3.1.2 Dhamma: The Three Marks of Existence

Understanding the Core Teachings of Buddhism

Buddhism centers around understanding the nature of human existence, suffering, and the path to enlightenment. The Buddha identified three fundamental characteristics of existence that we can be completely sure of:

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1. Dukkha: The Reality of Suffering

Types of Suffering:

1. The Suffering of Change:

• Nothing in life is permanent; everything is in a state of flux. This constant change causes discomfort and suffering.

2. The Suffering of Attachment:

• Attachment to people, objects, or situations leads to suffering when those things inevitably change or are lost.
• Example: Attachment to loved ones, mobile phones, or personal possessions.

3. General Dissatisfaction:

• This is the subtle dissatisfaction we experience when life does not meet our expectations, leading to feelings of unease.

Reflection Questions:

• Identify an occasion from the Buddha's life that shows when he suffered or witnessed suffering.
• Provide examples from your own life that illustrate the three types of suffering.

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2. Anicca: The Impermanence of All Things

Three Aspects of Anicca:

1. Living Things:

• Example: An acorn growing into an oak tree represents the impermanence and change inherent in life.

2. Non-living Things:

• Example: A mountain gradually eroding over centuries shows that even seemingly permanent objects are subject to change.

3. Our Mind:

• Example: Our emotions can change throughout the day, reflecting the impermanence of our mental states.

How Anicca and Dukkha are Related:

The Story of Kisa Gotami: Understanding Anicca and Dukkha

Kisa Gotami's story is a powerful illustration of the Buddhist concepts of impermanence and suffering. After losing her child, she was consumed by grief and could not accept his death. Seeking a cure, she went to the Buddha, who instructed her to collect a mustard seed from a household that had not experienced death.

As she visited each home, she learned that every family had suffered the loss of a loved one. This realization helped her understand that suffering is a universal experience, and that impermanence (anicca) is a natural part of life. Through this understanding, she found peace and became a follower of the Buddha.

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3. Anatta: The Concept of No Permanent Self

Case Study: The Car

• Consider a car: It is made up of many parts like the engine, wheels, and chassis. While we refer to it as a "car," this is just a name for a collection of parts. Similarly, the "self" is just a name for a collection of changing physical and mental parts.

Nagasena and the Chariot: A Story of Anatta

In the story of Nagasena and the chariot, Nagasena explains to King Milinda that just as a chariot is not any one of its parts but a combination of them, so too is the "self" merely a name for a collection of parts. There is no separate, unchanging entity that can be called a self.

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Key Learning Check

1. Dukkha: Explain why Buddhists view the belief in dukkha as realistic rather than pessimistic.
2. Anicca: Provide examples of how anicca affects inanimate objects and leads to dukkha.
3. Kisa Gotami: Reflect on what Kisa Gotami learned about suffering and how it changed her understanding.
4. Anatta: Discuss how the concept of anatta challenges the idea of a permanent self using the car or chariot analogy.