Let’s study together thru the conversation of the students who really need to know about “Buddhism”

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Tom :     Is the discourse on the Three Common Characteristics  

               of Existence an important teaching of Lord Buddha ?

Pim :      Yes, this discourse is one of the fundamental teachings

               of Buddhism like the Four Noble Truths,

               the Law of Kamma, Dependent Origination, and

               the Five Aggregates.  The teaching of the Three

               Common Characteristics is part of what we might

               call the contents of wisdom.

Tom :     Could you please explain again about the benefit of

               Understanding the Three Common Characteristics

               of Existence ?

Pim :      Well, first of all we must be clear about the meaning of

               “characteristic”.  Lord Buddha used the term

               “characteristic” to refer to facts about the nature of

               things that are always connected with existence, and

               that are always found in existence.  Once we realize

               the nature of existence, we will know how to deal with

               existence intelligently.  The same as we know about

               the nature of characteristic of fire – its heat :

               how to make use of it, how to control it and so on.

Tom :     What is the nature that can be found in existence?

Pim :      The nature that can be found in existence consists of

               Three characteristics:

               impermanence,

               unsatisfaction or suffering,

               and not-self.

Tom :     Is this why they are called the Three Common

              Characteristics of Existence ?

Pim :      That’s right.  Once we realize the nature of existence,

               we learn to develop the sense of renunciation.

Tom :     How can that be ?

Pim :      Once we realize that our bodies and all compounded

               things are impermanent, that we may die at any moment,

               we won’t get attached to our bodies, possessions or

               even our beloved ones.  We won’t get attached to them

               for we know that if we do, we’ll undergo suffering, and

               that we must leave them behind when we die.

               Once we eliminate our attachment to them, we

               eliminate or ignorance.  Thus our wisdom and

               compassion arise in its place.  Moreover, we will be

               capable of encouraging ourselves to act with the

               awareness of reciprocity rather than to take advantage

               of others.  Because of compassion, we have a strong will

               to help others by making donations or supporting a

               charity to the best of our ability.  Because of our wisdom,

               we believe that the wholesome deeds we have done in

               this lifetime will condition our next lifetime.

               In short, we have the conviction to do only wholesome

               Deeds for the benefit and peace of ourselves and society.

               Such a concept is the idea of pursuing perfection. 

Tom :     By the way, I’m not quite clear about the benefit

               of understanding “not-self”

Pim :      Well, if we understand “not-self”, we’ll benefit in

               At least two important ways :

               First, we will all be able to deal with other people

               without paranoia.  This is because if we don’t cling

               to the self,  we won’t have to defend ourselves,

               possessions, prestige, opinion,or even our words. 

               Second,we won’t create a barrier between

               ourselves and the people and things around us.

               If we believe in the self, we’ll respond to persons

               and things around us either with desire or with

               aversion.  In this sense, the self is the source and

               the cause of suffering.

Tom :     Mn,understanding the Three Common

               Characteristics of Existence is quite beneficial

               not simply for our daily life but also

               for our society and the world.

Pim :      Absolutely!

Thanks & regards : AJ S. Srisopa (Cr. All Dhammateachers) &  3 Characteristics