Buddhism Beliefs: Three marks of Existence

Question 1

What are the three marks of existence?

Answer 1

There are three aspects to everything that exists, whether living or non-living. They are:
- Anicca – impermanence
- Anatta – no fixed soul or self
- Dukkha – suffering or unsatisfactoriness

Question 2

What is Anicca?

Answer 2

• Anicca means impermanence. It refers to the fact that everything constantly changes
• Buddhism teaches that suffering or dukkha arises when humans get too attached to things and resist change
• Anicca can affect living things, non-living things and the mind

Question 3

What is Anatta?

Answer 3

• Anatta is the idea that people do not have a fixed soul or self
• Instead, a person is made up of five aspects, called the five aggregates or skandhas

Question 4

What are the five skandhas?

Answer 4

Buddhists divide the self into five parts or aggregates to show that there is no unchanging essence to a person. They are:
- Form (our bodies)
- Sensation (Our feelings)
- Perception (our interpretation of how things are)
- Mental formations (our thoughts)
- Consciousness (our awareness)

Question 5

What is Dukkha?

Answer 5

• Dukkha means suffering, dissatisfaction or unsatisfactoriness
• Buddhists believe that suffering is inevitable in life
• Buddhists believe there are three types of suffering:
• Ordinary (physical, mental etc.)
• Change (Caused by loss or change)
• Attachment (Caused by craving)