Ultimate Reality: Anicca, Anatta, and Sunyata
Views of the Buddha
Theravada
● Became inaccessible when he died.
● Only his teachings remain.
● He is now in pari-nirvana, which is inaccessible to un-enlightened beings.
Mahayana
● The buddha is compassionate so he would not cut himself off from humanity entirely, even after death.
● Trikaya doctrine
● Almost worshipped
● Dharmakaya enables the Buddha to still be accessible today (TBs don’t believe this)
● Believe in the power of “bodhisattvas” – those who are future Buddhas. They worship Gautama Buddha,
bodhisattvas, and past Buddhas. The end goal is eventually Nirvana, but there is a stronger focus becoming a
Bodhisattva. All people should aim to be Buddhas in the future to help others escape suffering.
● Buddha is still accessible in pari-nirvana, worshipping the Buddha brings Buddhists into a personal relationship
with him.
● Mahayana temples are generally more ornate and will have more images to worship, not just of Siddhartha
but of Maitreya the future Buddha and Bodhisattvas.
How Anicca, Anatta and Sunyata Link -
Anicca - Everything changes.
Anatta - Because everything changes, there must be no ‘self’ as the parts that make up the ‘self’ have no
inherent/permanent existence.
Sunyata - Because everything changes, nothing has inherent existence - not just the self.
*The three marks of existence are dukkha (Kisa Gotami story illustrates dukkha), anicca, and anatta*
Anicca -
Anicca is the concept that nothing stays the same and everything is always changing; in a constant state of flux.
Buddhists must accept that nothing can stay how it is – everything must move on or change. For example, once a
human is born, they will grow and develop and eventually become an adult until at some point they will no longer
exist. Everyone grows older and changes.
Anicca is a law of the universe, meaning it is inescapable. As it is a law, it is neither good nor bad - things change from
bad to good, like stress levels or certain situations.
The Buddha taught that people suffer because they cannot accept change. He believed that people can only come
closer to enlightenment when they accept that they are changing beings. The Buddha first recognised Anicca when he
saw the first of the Four Sights - the old man. He realised that there is nothing in the universe that remains constant
for eternity, nothing except for Nirvana as it is unconditional (not caused). There are two types of Nirvana: Nirvana,
and Pari-nirvana (nirvana after death).
It is also believed that a true understanding of Anicca can only be gained through meditation and enlightenment.
The Lotus flower represents overcoming suffering, blossoming as a person, and enlightenment: it grows from the mud
into a beautiful flower, showing how one can overcome suffering. It also represents change and impermanence in the
fact that change can cause suffering, but we can and we should overcome it through meditation and the other
practises encouraged by the Buddha.
Impermanence is arguably the most important mark of existence as it is applicable to everything: to the whole
movement of the universe and of human life. Impermanence permeates all aspects of life, even in inanimate objects,
and thus is a constant reminder of the powerlessness of man. An understanding of impermanence motivates
Buddhists to improve their quality of life; to achieve enlightenment.
Views of the Buddha
Theravada
● Became inaccessible when he died.
● Only his teachings remain.
● He is now in pari-nirvana, which is inaccessible to un-enlightened beings.
Mahayana
● The buddha is compassionate so he would not cut himself off from humanity entirely, even after death.
● Trikaya doctrine
● Almost worshipped
● Dharmakaya enables the Buddha to still be accessible today (TBs don’t believe this)
● Believe in the power of “bodhisattvas” – those who are future Buddhas. They worship Gautama Buddha,
bodhisattvas, and past Buddhas. The end goal is eventually Nirvana, but there is a stronger focus becoming a
Bodhisattva. All people should aim to be Buddhas in the future to help others escape suffering.
● Buddha is still accessible in pari-nirvana, worshipping the Buddha brings Buddhists into a personal relationship
with him.
● Mahayana temples are generally more ornate and will have more images to worship, not just of Siddhartha
but of Maitreya the future Buddha and Bodhisattvas.
How Anicca, Anatta and Sunyata Link -
Anicca - Everything changes.
Anatta - Because everything changes, there must be no ‘self’ as the parts that make up the ‘self’ have no
inherent/permanent existence.
Sunyata - Because everything changes, nothing has inherent existence - not just the self.
*The three marks of existence are dukkha (Kisa Gotami story illustrates dukkha), anicca, and anatta*
Anicca -
Anicca is the concept that nothing stays the same and everything is always changing; in a constant state of flux.
Buddhists must accept that nothing can stay how it is – everything must move on or change. For example, once a
human is born, they will grow and develop and eventually become an adult until at some point they will no longer
exist. Everyone grows older and changes.
Anicca is a law of the universe, meaning it is inescapable. As it is a law, it is neither good nor bad - things change from
bad to good, like stress levels or certain situations.
The Buddha taught that people suffer because they cannot accept change. He believed that people can only come
closer to enlightenment when they accept that they are changing beings. The Buddha first recognised Anicca when he
saw the first of the Four Sights - the old man. He realised that there is nothing in the universe that remains constant
for eternity, nothing except for Nirvana as it is unconditional (not caused). There are two types of Nirvana: Nirvana,
and Pari-nirvana (nirvana after death).
It is also believed that a true understanding of Anicca can only be gained through meditation and enlightenment.
The Lotus flower represents overcoming suffering, blossoming as a person, and enlightenment: it grows from the mud
into a beautiful flower, showing how one can overcome suffering. It also represents change and impermanence in the
fact that change can cause suffering, but we can and we should overcome it through meditation and the other
practises encouraged by the Buddha.
Impermanence is arguably the most important mark of existence as it is applicable to everything: to the whole
movement of the universe and of human life. Impermanence permeates all aspects of life, even in inanimate objects,
and thus is a constant reminder of the powerlessness of man. An understanding of impermanence motivates
Buddhists to improve their quality of life; to achieve enlightenment.
