According to Buddhist tradition, which three characteristics make up the Three Marks of Existence?

According to Buddhist tradition, the Three Marks of Existence are impermanence, suffering, and non-self.

The Three Marks summarize characteristics that Buddhist teachings apply to conditioned existence. Impermanence, or anicca, means that changing phenomena do not remain fixed. Suffering or unsatisfactoriness, dukkha, describes the instability and inadequacy involved in relying on changing things for lasting satisfaction. Non-self, anatta, teaches that no permanent, independent self can be found among the changing physical and mental processes.

These ideas are closely connected with the Buddha’s analysis of experience. They are not three stages of life, and they are not the same as the Noble Eightfold Path. Buddhist traditions use somewhat different translations, especially for dukkha and anatta, but the standard three-part formulation remains recognizable across schools.

The marks are traditionally used as a framework for insight meditation and understanding why attachment produces suffering.