Buddhism - Key Beliefs
Three Marks of Existence 1. Anicca : impermanence
2. Anatta : interdependence
3. Dukkha : suffering
Four Sights 1. old man
2. sick man
3. dead man
4. holy man
— evidence of the Three Marks of Existence;
Nothing stays the same (anicca) and everything
is dependent on each other (Dependent
Origination / anatta) and so suffering (dukka)
exists.
Dependent Origination In terms of life :
● nothing has an independent origin
● everything is interconnected
● everything that exists depends on
something else
In terms of Buddhists :
● people experience sensation because
they have senses
● people experience cravings because
they are overloaded with sensation
● people experience desire because they
want to satisfy their cravings
Four Noble Truths 1. the existence of suffering — dukkha
2. the cause of suffering —
tanha/samudaya
(cravings)
‘It is this craving which leads to renewed
existence’
3. the end of suffering — nirodha
(nirvana)
4. the cure for suffering — magga
(The Middle Way + Eightfold Path)
Three Poisons 1. Greed (pig)
● refers to cravings and desires
(tanha)
● can be overcome by developing
generosity (dana)
2. Hatred (snake)
● results in anger caused by
wanting others’ possessions in
seek for one’s own happiness
● can be overcome by developing
loving-kindness (karuna)
3. Delusion (cockerel)
● refers to ignorance of the Four
Noble Truths and the reality of
Dependent Origination
● can be overcome by developing
wisdom (prajna)
, Middle Way proceeding/meditating whilst being in
between the extremes of excess and
starvation
Threefold / Eightfold Path 1. Wisdom (prajna)
● right intention
● right view
2. Ethics (sila)
● right action
● right speech
● right livelihood
3. Meditation (samadhi)
● right concentration
● right mindfulness
● right effort
Nirvana ● state of ultimate peace and joy obtained
by eradicating all cravings and desire
● achieved at Enlightenment (the highest
goal of Buddhists)
● ‘extinction of greed, extinction of hate,
extinction of delusion: this is called
Nirvana’
● freedom from suffering and rebirth
(‘renewed existence’)
● free from the cycle of samsara
Enlightenment ● enlightenment is the state of inner
freedom from the Three Poisons and
ultimate happiness and peace
● achieved by following the Eightfold
Path, expelling the tanha (cravings) by
following the Middle Way (magga)
● can be associated with the experience
of nirvana
● Theravada = become an Arhat
(enlightened being)
● Mahayana = become a Bodhisattva
(enlightened for the sake of others)
Karma Good Karma :
1. Karuna = compassion - experiencing
someone else’s suffering
2. Metta = loving-kindness - universal
friendliness by celebrating other’s joy
Bad Karma :
● accumulated by giving into the Three
Poisons (eg. ignorance of the Dharma,
hatred towards one’s joy, greed due to
temptation of tanha)
● drifts further away from the path to
enlightenment and traps one in the
cycle of samsara ( = dukka =
never-ending suffering)
Three Marks of Existence 1. Anicca : impermanence
2. Anatta : interdependence
3. Dukkha : suffering
Four Sights 1. old man
2. sick man
3. dead man
4. holy man
— evidence of the Three Marks of Existence;
Nothing stays the same (anicca) and everything
is dependent on each other (Dependent
Origination / anatta) and so suffering (dukka)
exists.
Dependent Origination In terms of life :
● nothing has an independent origin
● everything is interconnected
● everything that exists depends on
something else
In terms of Buddhists :
● people experience sensation because
they have senses
● people experience cravings because
they are overloaded with sensation
● people experience desire because they
want to satisfy their cravings
Four Noble Truths 1. the existence of suffering — dukkha
2. the cause of suffering —
tanha/samudaya
(cravings)
‘It is this craving which leads to renewed
existence’
3. the end of suffering — nirodha
(nirvana)
4. the cure for suffering — magga
(The Middle Way + Eightfold Path)
Three Poisons 1. Greed (pig)
● refers to cravings and desires
(tanha)
● can be overcome by developing
generosity (dana)
2. Hatred (snake)
● results in anger caused by
wanting others’ possessions in
seek for one’s own happiness
● can be overcome by developing
loving-kindness (karuna)
3. Delusion (cockerel)
● refers to ignorance of the Four
Noble Truths and the reality of
Dependent Origination
● can be overcome by developing
wisdom (prajna)
, Middle Way proceeding/meditating whilst being in
between the extremes of excess and
starvation
Threefold / Eightfold Path 1. Wisdom (prajna)
● right intention
● right view
2. Ethics (sila)
● right action
● right speech
● right livelihood
3. Meditation (samadhi)
● right concentration
● right mindfulness
● right effort
Nirvana ● state of ultimate peace and joy obtained
by eradicating all cravings and desire
● achieved at Enlightenment (the highest
goal of Buddhists)
● ‘extinction of greed, extinction of hate,
extinction of delusion: this is called
Nirvana’
● freedom from suffering and rebirth
(‘renewed existence’)
● free from the cycle of samsara
Enlightenment ● enlightenment is the state of inner
freedom from the Three Poisons and
ultimate happiness and peace
● achieved by following the Eightfold
Path, expelling the tanha (cravings) by
following the Middle Way (magga)
● can be associated with the experience
of nirvana
● Theravada = become an Arhat
(enlightened being)
● Mahayana = become a Bodhisattva
(enlightened for the sake of others)
Karma Good Karma :
1. Karuna = compassion - experiencing
someone else’s suffering
2. Metta = loving-kindness - universal
friendliness by celebrating other’s joy
Bad Karma :
● accumulated by giving into the Three
Poisons (eg. ignorance of the Dharma,
hatred towards one’s joy, greed due to
temptation of tanha)
● drifts further away from the path to
enlightenment and traps one in the
cycle of samsara ( = dukka =
never-ending suffering)
