The Three Marks of Existence

There’s something humbling about our experiences. We’re all born into a world that seems so solid, and so predictable at times, but life has this uncanny way of pulling the rug out from under us. Buddhism explains a universal truth with "Three Marks of Existence". These are impermanence (anicca), suffering (dukkha), and non-self (anatta). These three marks are not just some abstract ideas; When we embrace them, they can change how we see ourselves and everything that affects us.

Anicca

Think about the last time you enjoyed something, a cozy moment, a lovely relationship, or even a deeply held idea and wished it could last forever. Perhaps it was the beautiful view of a sunset or anything that makes you happy. Yet, no matter how precious, nothing ever remains the same. That’s the reality of impermanence.

Impermanence can feel like a cruel idea. We want to hold onto the good things and dread the moment they slip away. But it’s also what keeps life dynamic. Without change in our short lives, we’d be stuck in a world where growth is impossible. Imagine if every heartbreak stayed with you forever—would you still have the courage to open your heart again? As difficult as it can be, impermanence is what allows us to heal, grow, and embrace new beginnings.

Dukkha

We all know that life isn’t always easy. It’s filled with moments of frustration, loss, and longing. The Buddhists call this dukkha, which translates roughly as suffering, but it’s not just about pain. It’s that underlying sense of dissatisfaction that follows us around, even when everything seems to be going well.

Think about the holidays. You plan the perfect dinner, gather everyone you love, and for a few hours, it’s bliss. But then someone makes an offhand comment, or you catch yourself dreading the cleanup. That’s dukkha in action. It’s the reminder that even in our happiest moments, something feels a little off, incomplete.

But dukkha isn’t here to depress us. It’s here to wake us up. When we stop trying to outrun our dissatisfaction and instead sit with it, we start to see life more clearly. We realize that happiness isn’t about perfecting the external world but about changing how we relate to it.

Anatta

If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and wondered, “Who am I, really?” you’ve touched on the concept of non-self, or anatta. We’re all taught to think of ourselves as fixed entities, a solid “me” that stays the same through life. But when you start to dig deeper, that idea begins to fall apart.

Take a moment to reflect on who you were ten years ago. Your opinions, your dreams, even your taste in music—how much of it has stayed the same? And what about your body? Every cell in it has been replaced multiple times since then. So if you’re not the same person you were a decade ago, who are you?

Non-self isn’t about saying you don’t exist. It’s about recognizing that you’re not as fixed or permanent as you might think. You’re more like a river—constantly flowing, changing, and adapting. And that’s freeing. You don’t have to cling so tightly to your identity or feel boxed in by who you think you’re supposed to be.

Finding Peace in Life

At first glance, the Three Marks of Existence might seem like a recipe for despair. But they’re not here to make us feel hopeless. They’re here to remind us that life is fluid, unpredictable, and profoundly interconnected.

When we embrace impermanence, we stop clinging so tightly to what we can’t control. When we accept suffering, we open ourselves to a deeper understanding of what it means to be human. And when we let go of the rigid idea of self, we find the freedom to grow and change.

Life isn’t perfect, but it’s real. And in its imperfection, there’s a kind of beauty that no amount of permanence, pleasure, or certainty could ever replace. The Three Marks of Existence don’t just describe life; they invite us to live it—fully, honestly, and with an open heart.