Muni's PlayThe Trilakshana (Sanskrit: त्रिलक्षण; Pāli: Tilakkhaṇa), or the Three Marks of Existence, represents the three characteristics that define all conditioned reality in Buddhist philosophy:
| Pāli / Sanskrit | English Translation | Core Insight |
|---|---|---|
| Anicca (अनित्य) | Impermanent | Nothing is permanent |
| Dukkha (दुःख) | Imperfect | Nothing is perfect |
| Anattā (अनात्मन्) | Impersonal | Nothing is personal |
1. Impermanent (Anicca / अनित्य)
- Everything is impermanent (everything changes).
- All physical and mental phenomena are in a constant state of flux. Nothing remains static; everything is continuously arising, changing, and passing away.
2. Imperfect (Dukkha / दुःख)
- Life is imperfect (we all suffer).
- Because all things are impermanent and subject to change, seeking lasting happiness or stability in conditioned things inevitably leads to unsatisfactoriness, friction, and suffering.
3. Impersonal (Anattā / अनात्मन्)
- What happens in life is impersonal (the difficult concept of “not self”).
- There is no permanent, unchanging, or independent “self” or soul to be found in any of our experiences. All phenomena arise due to interconnected causes and conditions rather than a personal ego.