The Three Characteristics

The Three Characteristics are so central to the teachings of the Buddha that it is almost inconceivable how little attention the vast majority of so-called insight meditators pay to them. They are impermanence , unsatisfactoriness, and no-self . I cannot possibly stress enough the usefulness of trying again and again to really understand these three qualities of all experience. They are the stuff from which ultimate insight at all levels comes, pure and simple. They are the marks of ultimate reality. Every single time I say, “understand the true nature of things,” what I mean is, “understand the Three Characteristics.” To really understand them is to be enlightened.

- Daniel Ingram, Mastering the Core Teachings of Buddhism

The Three Characteristics are: impermanence, unsatisfactoriness or suffering, and no-self.

In every moment we can look at these and evaluate our mental state based on them. 

- Impermanence (Anicca)

Notice how nothing stays the same. The body you are made of is an entirely new set of cells every 7 years. A table starts as a tree and ends as ashes, or dust, only to be taken up as nutrients for another tree. Nothing is ever the same from moment to moment. Even our minds are in constant flux - happy one minute, and depressed the next.

In this moment, what things or ideas are we clinging to, or seeing as permanent? How can we see them as impermanent?

- Unsatisfactoriness (Suffering) (Dukkha)

Today we wish we were someone, or somewhere, different. We aren't happy with our future prospects. We fear that we will grow old, be poor, feel pain, or die. This craving to what we wished had happened, or want to happen in the future, and this aversion to what has happened, or what could happen, color our present moment making us unhappy. 

In this moment, what are we wishing was different than it is right now, and what ideas or concepts are we projecting on to objects or situations in our vicinity? How can we see them as empty (existing without) those illusory characteristics?

- No-Self (Anatta)

What we think of as our permanent selves is comprised of a string of thoughts, a series of habits, and our opinions, likes, dislikes, etc. Are you the same person at home as you are at work? Do you talk to your dog the same as you talk to your boss? Even with other people we adopt attitudes and personas.  There is no solid "self" that exists of it's own accord - it is the construction of what thoughts, ideas and conditions we are currently in. 

What characteristics are we building self out of right now? That we are stupid, or brilliant? Beautiful or ugly? Old or young? Important or worthless? Can we see that it is WE who are assigning those characteristics to our false "self"? Can we see that those characteristics are illusory and don't at all describe our impermanent, moving-target personhood?