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Lecture notes The Three Marks of Existence
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Notes on Anicca, Anatta and Dukkha
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What are The Three Lakshanas?The Lakshanas in Pali means characteristic, mark, or quality. They are the three marks of
existence – Anicca, Anatta, Dukkha. Together, they represent the way Buddhists see the
world. Through understanding the Three Lakshanas, we gain a true understanding of the
world around us.
Anicca
Anicca means Impermanence. It is the belief that all things are subject to change. Nothing
ever stays the same forever.
Gross Change
The Buddha taught that change happens on two levels. At the Gross Level and the
Momentary Level. The Gross Level is the change that we can see. This could be changing
seasons. This change can be observed by our own eyes. Buddhists believe that this aspect of
change cannot be denied.
Momentary Change
Momentary change is the subtle change, the change that we cannot see, but we can reflect
and see the change occurring over time.
Examples:
A river, we see gross change in the rock planted in the river to split the stream, we then see
momentary change in the erosion of the rock over time in the stream.
Paticcasmupada
Paticcasmupada is the idea of Dependent Origination, and it is the cause of this change
that occurs (Gross and Momentary). Nothing entirely exists in its own right. Because
everything that exists, is dependent on other things for its existence, then nothing can last
forever. Life is a series of moments linked together. Life is in constant motion, and it isn’t
random.
Anicca and Suffering
It is hard to accept Anicca in practice because we fear change and want things to stay the
same as we know it works. This is known as Viparinama Dukkha – the suffering of change.
There are 3 types of suffering:
, - Craving something we have lost.
- Recreating past happiness.
- A change in us.
Theravadin Buddhist Stories from The Pali Canon
Kisagotami and The Mustard Seeds
Kisagotami gives birth to a child, but a disease strikes the village. The child dies and the
mother refuses to accept it. She carries her son house to house asking for medicine, yet all
the houses say her son is dead. Finally, she meets a villager who tells her to take her son to
The Buddha, he shall heal her son. So, she does and when she arrives The Buddha says he
can cure her son. Yet, The Buddha asks for a mustard seed which must come from a
household that hasn’t experienced death. So, she goes around but finds every household
has experienced death. She realises the truth, that death occurs wherever you go. She
accepts her child’s death and starts to mourn.
This story tells us that death occurs because life is contingent, eventually everything will
perish and for that we experience Impermanence. We cannot change this, but we must
accept it shall happen and move on with our life.
The Hare in The Moon
King Vasudeva’s son dies, and he falls to grief. Yet Ghatapandita, his brother, tries to solve
his grief. He decides that he needs the hare on the moon, yet that is impossible to gain. The
brother realises that trying to get the impossible, is impossible and while you wait or search
for it, you will soon die. His brother then asks, “why do you mourn for your dead son?” The
brother soon makes Vasudeva realise that if he mourns forever, he shall die, and that death
shall always occur.
This story tells us that death and grief are not permanent so you need to let it go, you must
not let it control you and learn to let go.
Visakha and The Perils of The Dear
Visakha’ s grandson dies. So, she goes to The Buddha for guidance, drenched in water. The
Buddha asks her if she wants more grandchildren and children. For which, Visakha says yes!
But The Buddha explains no matter how many children or grandchildren she has, death
shall always occur. She will never be free of suffering. Even if she wants more to be happy,
attaching yourself to contingent things will only end in suffering of your own making.
This story tells us that the more you have, the greater the suffering you shall experience.
Even if you have more, you increase the pain of contingent loss.
Mahayana Buddhists understanding of Anicca
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