The Three Characteristics

Also known as the Three Marks of Existence, or the Dharma Seals.

The three marks are Impermanence (Annica), Suffering (Dukha), Not Self (Anatta).

Impermanence

When observing any object, process, thought, phenomenon, you may notice that it never remains the same permanently. Everything in the universe fluctuates constantly, at a macroscopic and microscopic level. A sound that seems steady is in fact fluctuating up and down, up and down, quickly enough to give the impression of solidity. It is the same with all other phenomena.

Some things change slowly, and some quickly. Sometimes we may want things to last forever, good times, happy events, etc. but they don't. Also, we want bad feelings, physical and emotional pain to go away quickly. And they do go away, or at least, the pain ebbs and flows, getting stronger, then weaker. When we cling to something it is attachment or craving; when we want something to go away, it is called aversion. I'd say they are the same thing but on opposite ends of a pole; wanting things to be other than how they are. The second noble truth refers to this.

Suffering

Suffering is perhaps not a very good translation of the word Dukkha. I prefer 'unsatisfactory-ness'. I think it makes more sense to western sensibilities. When we look into phenomenon, we can see that they never quite fulfil us. What we think of as the most wonderful sensations of mind and body, can never satisfy us permanently. Our happiest times are marred by this quality; the characteristic of Dukkha. If there was such a thing as a truly satisfying sensation, we would stop searching for more, need never look for another. But you may notice that after a fantastic meal, we look for something else, something tastier, more filling; or a cigar, or drink; something to try and satisfy the craving for satisfaction. Or, we may indulge in entertainments, but after one we need another, because the first, no matter how stimulating, how exciting, how pleasurable, did not fully satisfy. If we are allowed infinite indulgence of the senses, we find we become decadent; bored of fine things, beautiful treasures, exquisite foods, even the most alluring sexual partners. This is Dukkha.

Not Self

No matter where we look we cannot find a solid self. This relates with the other two characteristics (as they all relate to each other in some way.) There is no permanent self, because one changes all the time. With every passing millisecond, some part of our mind or body is changing. We are not the same person we were when we were born, nor will we be the same person we are now when we are 80... so which one is the self? We have a tendency to think of our selves as a solid thing, when really our sense of self is as impermanent, as unsolid as any other phenomenon. When we look for ourselves, we find parts of a being. When we observe our feet, our feet are not our body. Our behaviour is not us. Our thoughts are not us. So where is us? 'I' is in fact a collection of many tiny parts, all of them in flux, changing and unsatisfying.

We are not supposed to simply read and accept these concepts, we are meant to observe them as part of our meditation practice.

Futher Reading

Daniel Ingrams Chapter on The Three characteristics, from Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha