Three marks of existence

When the three characteristics of existence ( Pali: ti- Lakkhana, Sanskrit: tri - Laksana ) are in Buddhism - especially in Theravada - refers to the characteristics that are inherent to all physical and mental phenomena of existence. The as Dharma Seal (dharma mudra ) called existence characteristics are considered essential for an authentic Buddhism.

• Anicca - Everything is transient and nothing of eternal existence. Everything is subject to change.
• Dukkha - Everything is subject to suffering. Similarly, the term can be translated as inadequacy.
• Anatta - All things and phenomena exist without an immutable essence. There are no separate, permanent "I " and no eternal soul. Everything comes dependent on others. Every human being is conceived as by his parents and must take food, in order to exist.

In addition to the universal realities of impermanence ( anicca ) and non-self ( anatta ) - - In the Mahayana is not caused by the interaction of the three poisons suffering ( dukkha ) (First and Second Noble Truth), but Nirvana, as a universal ground of being.

In Vajrayana both views in teaching are united by the "Four Dharma Seals": impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, not-self ( emptiness ), Nirvana. It is also true in the Vajrayana that without the four basic views, a teaching system can not be evaluated as a Buddhist.