three marks of existence Flashcards
(30 cards)
what is dhamma?
the truth
who is the buddha?
the enlightened one
what is enlightenment?
knowing and understanding how to overcome suffering
what are the three marks of existence?
anicca, anatta and dukkha
how did the buddha discover the marks of existence?
meditating under bodhi tree
what did the buddha discover about the marks of existence?
they are the characteristics of life that we need to understand to overcome suffering
what does anicca mean?
impermanence
how did the buddha discover impermanence?
by witnessing the four sights
what are the four sights?
old man, sick man, religious man, dead man
what story relates to anicca?
kisa and the mustard seed
what is learned through kisa and the mustard seed?
everyone experiences suffering
examples of relationship impermanence in buddhism
buddha leaves his wife and child to become enlightened, monks leave their families
what does inability to accept impermanence result in?
cravings/tanha and then dukkha/suffering
what does anicca teach us we need to stop to prevent suffering?
craving
how does anicca help buddhists?
helps them to accept loss easier as aware it will happen, gives hope in difficult times as nothing lasts forever, less likely to crave physical, material possessions
what is the second truth discovered?
anatta
what does anatta mean?
living beings have no soul
what are the five skhandas?
form, sensations, perceptions, mental formations, consciousness
how do the 5 skhandas link to anatta?
instead of a soul, a person is made of these five constantly changing parts, no permanent sense of self
how does the analogy of the chariot link to anatta?
no one part makes a chariot, they all work together just as there is no one soul in a human it is the 5 constantly changing skhandas
how does anatta impact buddhists?
not bothered by appearance as know it wont last forever, able to let go of ego - not above anyone else, do not believe in a self so always put others first, constantly changing parts allow buddhists to change into better people
how do buddhist monks demonstrate their acceptance of anattta?
by shaving their heads
what does dukkha mean?
suffering, dissatisfaction
what causes dukkha?
the three root poisons; greed, hatred and ignorance