<p>Most of the time in Mahayana (both Vajrayana and Zen) I hear of <strong>Four</strong> Marks of Existence: Transience, Unsatisfactoriness, Corelessness, <strong>and Nirvana</strong>. All four are subsumed under Shunyata (Emptiness) which is equated with Pratitya-Samutpada (Dependent Co-Arising).</p>

<p>Not sure about past, present and future. Anyone?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-06T14:26:02.380Z
Do you have a reference for this?
Jayarava
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2015-09-06T14:38:53.713Z
For which one, for Nirvana included in the marks, for subsuming them under shunyata, or for equating shunyata with dependent-coarising? I don't have time for all three references, you have to pick one ;)
Andriy Volkov
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2015-09-06T17:03:03.777Z
I think all of these assertions need backing up. As an answer there's not much to recommend this. But for example I have *never* seen nirvāṇa included as a fourth lakṣana in any Mahāyāna text. Nor have I seen all four subsumed. The last many Madhyamakas seem to like to argue with, so is at best a moot point.
Jayarava
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2015-09-06T17:40:12.230Z
@Jayarava for the first point, google "Four Dharma Seals" or "shihoin buddhism".  See for example http://lionsroar.com/buddhism-nutshell-four-seals-dharma - I've heard this many times from various teachers - I'm surprised you've never encountered this?!
Andriy Volkov
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-06T17:51:04.757Z
For the last point, I believe it was made by Nagarjuna. For detailed analysis see "The Foundational Standpoint of Madhyamika Philosophy" by Gadjin Nagao.
Andriy Volkov
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-07T07:39:59.350Z
On the whole I'm not interested in Mahāyāna Buddhism. Tibetan forms of Mahāyāna Buddhism even less. I'd still like to know *when* these ideas entered Mahāyana, because as I say I've not encountered them in Sanskrit Mahāyāna *texts*.
Jayarava
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2015-09-09T13:19:26.683Z
"There are here, O monks, some foolish men who study the Teaching; having studied it, they do not wisely examine the purpose of those teachings. To those who do not wisely examine the purpose, these teachings will not yield insight." -- Buddha in MN 22, The Snake Simile Sutra.
Andriy Volkov
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-06T13:06:28.297Z
2015-09-06T17:42:35.017Z
2015-09-06T17:42:35.017Z
Andriy Volkov
<p>Here the 'Theravada' Tag is added.<br>
So The definitions for "Timeless" is given as like this:</p>

<p>akaliko [<strong>akaaliko</strong>]: Timeless; unconditioned by time or season. The Dhamma is able to bestow timeless and immediate results here and now, for which there is no need to wait until the future or next existence. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-16T09:23:42.707Z
2015-09-16T09:23:42.707Z
Shrawaka
<p>What is the equivalent to the 3 Marks of Existence in Vajrayana or Mahayana Buddhism? I heard a version of the Buddha's enlightenment¹, where the Buddha  didn't realize impermanence, dukkha and no-self but in place of that he realized the past, the present and the future. That sounded a bit odd to me, is that a popular Vajrayana version of the Buddha's enlightenment?</p>

<hr>

<p>¹ Here is how the Buddha's enlightenment is narrated in the movie "<em>Kundun</em>":</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>"Then, at the time of midnight,
  the Bodhisattva saw a clear light. Then he saw in a single instant 
  the three states of existence,</p>
  
  <p>the past,<br>
   the present,<br>
   and the future  </p>
  
  <p>purified by the clear light.
  Then, sitting at the Tree of Enlightenment, he conquered
  all the devils."</p>
</blockquote>

<theravada><mahayana><teaching>
Three Marks of Existence in Mahayana
# Three Marks of Existence in Mahayana

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-09-06)

What is the equivalent to the 3 Marks of Existence in Vajrayana or Mahayana Buddhism? I heard a version of the Buddha's enlightenment¹, where the Buddha didn't realize impermanence, dukkha and no-self but in place of that he realized the past, the present and the future. That sounded a bit odd to me, is that a popular Vajrayana version of the Buddha's enlightenment?

---

¹ Here is how the Buddha's enlightenment is narrated in the movie "*Kundun*":

> "Then, at the time of midnight,
> the Bodhisattva saw a clear light. Then he saw in a single instant
> the three states of existence,
>
> the past,  
> the present,  
> and the future
>
> purified by the clear light.
> Then, sitting at the Tree of Enlightenment, he conquered
> all the devils."

**Tags:** theravada, mahayana, teaching


---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-09-06. Score: 2

Most of the time in Mahayana (both Vajrayana and Zen) I hear of **Four** Marks of Existence: Transience, Unsatisfactoriness, Corelessness, **and Nirvana**. All four are subsumed under Shunyata (Emptiness) which is equated with Pratitya-Samutpada (Dependent Co-Arising).

Not sure about past, present and future. Anyone?

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Do you have a reference for this?  
> **username_1**: For which one, for Nirvana included in the marks, for subsuming them under shunyata, or for equating shunyata with dependent-coarising? I don't have time for all three references, you have to pick one ;)  
> **username_2**: I think all of these assertions need backing up. As an answer there's not much to recommend this. But for example I have *never* seen nirvāṇa included as a fourth lakṣana in any Mahāyāna text. Nor have I seen all four subsumed. The last many Madhyamakas seem to like to argue with, so is at best a moot point.  
> **username_1**: @username_2 for the first point, google "Four Dharma Seals" or "shihoin buddhism".  See for example http://lionsroar.com/buddhism-nutshell-four-seals-dharma - I've heard this many times from various teachers - I'm surprised you've never encountered this?!  
> **username_1**: For the last point, I believe it was made by Nagarjuna. For detailed analysis see "The Foundational Standpoint of Madhyamika Philosophy" by Gadjin Nagao.  
> **username_2**: On the whole I'm not interested in Mahāyāna Buddhism. Tibetan forms of Mahāyāna Buddhism even less. I'd still like to know *when* these ideas entered Mahāyana, because as I say I've not encountered them in Sanskrit Mahāyāna *texts*.  
> **username_1**: "There are here, O monks, some foolish men who study the Teaching; having studied it, they do not wisely examine the purpose of those teachings. To those who do not wisely examine the purpose, these teachings will not yield insight." -- Buddha in MN 22, The Snake Simile Sutra.  

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### Answer by username_3 on 2015-09-16. Score: 0

Here the 'Theravada' Tag is added.  
So The definitions for "Timeless" is given as like this:

akaliko [**akaaliko**]: Timeless; unconditioned by time or season. The Dhamma is able to bestow timeless and immediate results here and now, for which there is no need to wait until the future or next existence.


---

