The Three Signs of Being
March 25, 2008
The three signs of being are in essence of the three characteristics of all phenomena or, the ability to see things as they really are.
Change
Impermanence. Everything is always changing, wether physical, mental or emotional. Nothing stays the same so real stability is an illusion and even relative stability is at best a tenporary state of balance. Our thoughts, moods and bodies are born, gain strength, then deteriorate and cease to be.
Suffering
Suffering is also known as unsatisfactoriness. These are feelings of insecurity and frustration that arise from attachment. As nothing last indefinitely many things are taken away from us before we can fully enjoy them. Individuals want security, satisfaction and happiness, but we are always trying to grasp it as it is just out of reach.
No – 1
Buddha denied the soul. Furthermore, there is no permanent essence in anything, including ourselves. We spend much time and energy defending a non-existent – I, Me, or Mine. This is the central delusion in Buddhism, one that Buddha saw through on his enlightenment.
“Suffering I teach and the way out of suffering” – The Buddha.
