The Three Marks of Existence

1. Anicca (Impermanence)

The concept of impermanence emphasises that all conditioned phenomena, both physical and mental, are in a constant state of flux. Nothing in the world remains static or unchanging. Everything is subjectThe person, place, thing, or idea the clause is about; performs or experiences the verb. to birth, decay, and cessation. This impermanence is a universal truth and a fundamental aspect of existence. When individuals deeply grasp the impermanent nature of all things, they develop the insight needed to let go of attachments and cravings, which leads to freedom from suffering.

2. Anatta (No Fixed Self)

Anatta challenges the idea of an eternal, unchanging self or soul (atman). Buddhism posits that the notion of a fixed, permanent self is an illusion. The human personality is a collection of ever-changing mental and physical elements, the Five Aggregates (skandhas). These aggregates come together and interact to create the sense of a self, but upon closer examination, no enduring self can be found. Realising the absence of a fixed self helps individuals overcome self-identification and ego, reducing suffering caused by clinging to a fixed identity.

3. Dukkha (Unsatisfactoriness of Life, Suffering)

Dukkha refers to the inherent unsatisfactory and unsatisfying nature of human existence. It includes physical and emotional suffering, as well as the general dissatisfaction and unease experienced in life. Even in moments of pleasure or joy, there is a subtle undercurrent of dissatisfaction because those experiences are impermanent and subject to change. The First Noble Truth in Buddhism acknowledges dukkha and emphasises the need to understand its causes and find a way to transcend it.