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Buddhism

The Dhamma and the Three Marks of Existence

  • 3 things to know
  • Paper 1

Overview

These questions explain what Dhamma means and why it is one of the Three Refuges, dependent arising and its link to rebirth, and the Three Marks of Existence, including how Theravada and Mahayana Buddhists read anatta.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What does the word Dhamma mean in Buddhism?

Key term

Why is the Dhamma one of the Three Refuges?

Key term

Explain the idea of dependent arising (paticcasamuppada).

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What does the word Dhamma mean in Buddhism?

    Model answer

    Dhamma, called Dharma in Sanskrit, means the Buddha’s teaching about the way things really are. The word also covers the truth itself, not only the words used to express it.

  2. 2

    Why is the Dhamma one of the Three Refuges?

    Model answer

    Buddhists take refuge in the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha. The Dhamma is the teaching that shows the way out of suffering.

  3. 3

    Explain the idea of dependent arising (paticcasamuppada).

    Model answer

    Dependent arising is the teaching that everything comes into being because of causes and conditions. Each thing depends on other things for its existence.

  4. 4

    State the short formula the Buddha used for dependent arising.

    Model answer

    The Buddha taught that when this exists, that comes to be. Conditions that cease take their results with them.

  5. 5

    How does dependent arising explain the cycle of rebirth?

    Model answer

    Ignorance leads to craving, craving leads to grasping, and grasping leads to another birth. A break in one link of the chain ends the whole cycle.

  6. 6

    Name the Three Marks of Existence.

    Model answer

    The Three Marks of Existence are anicca, anatta and dukkha. Every conditioned thing carries all three marks.

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