FREE SELF-PACED MINI COURSE
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THE THREE MARKS OF EXISTENCE: IMPERMANENCE, SUFERING ANDÂ NON-SELF
with ETHANÂ NICHTERNÂ
& LOU SHARMA
The Three Marks of Existence—impermanence (anicca), suffering (dukkha), and non-self (anatta)—are fundamental Buddhist concepts that offer profound insight into the nature of reality. These principles shape our human experience and provide essential guidance for developing mindfulness, compassion, and equanimity in daily life.
This free video series, led by Dharma Moon Yearlong Buddhist Studies teachers Ethan Nichtern and Lou Sharma, offers an accessible exploration of these transformative teachings. Through reflection, guided inquiry, and practical application, you’ll be invited to examine your relationship with change, discomfort, and your sense of self.
Designed to meet students where they are, the course fosters deeper understanding and encourages greater adaptability, compassion, and balance. By engaging with these core teachings, students can break free from habitual reactions and approach life’s challenges with greater clarity and ease.
The Three Marks of Existence form a foundation for many Buddhist teachings and contemplative practices. By recognizing these essential characteristics, students can cultivate a more skillful, compassionate, and liberated approach to life.
WHEN YOU REGISTER FOR THE COURSE, YOUÂ GET
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Video 1: Impermanence (Anicca) — Living With Life's Changes
We often resist change, clinging to what feels stable or familiar. But if you look closely, everything is in a state of flux—our relationships, emotions, and even our sense of self. This teaching on impermanence helps us understand that change isn’t a threat to be avoided but an aspect of life that can foster a more fluid, open approach to life’s unpredictability.
Video 2: Suffering (Dukkha) — Understanding the Nature of Suffering
The term dukkha is often translated as "suffering," but its meaning is more nuanced. It points to the underlying unease we feel when life doesn't conform to our expectations. While suffering is unavoidable, the teachings on dukkha show us that much of our struggle comes from misalignment with reality. By working with this truth, we can begin to meet life's difficulties with more steadiness and less reactivity.
Video 3: Non-Self (Anatta) — Rethinking the Self
What is "the self"? Is our identity and concepts around who we are as fixed and solid as it seems? The Buddhist concept of anatta, or "non-self," challenges the idea that we are a singular, independent identity. Instead, it reveals how our sense of self is a dynamic, ever-changing process. Learn how this teaching fosters a more connected, compassionate view of ourselves and others.
WHY THESE TEACHINGS MATTER
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These three truths—impermanence, suffering, and non-self—are observable realities that are prevalent in every aspect of human experience. Our relationships change. Our thoughts shift. Our bodies age. No role, achievement, or concept ever remains fixed forever.
The Three Marks of Existence allow us to live in harmony with these truths, rather than resist them. By doing so, we can cultivate greater clarity, compassion, and flexibility in how we approach life's changes and challenges.Â
This series offers practical tools to support this shift in perspective—not by adopting new beliefs, but by recognizing what has always been true.
COURSEÂ INSTRUCTORS
Ethan Nichtern
Ethan Nichtern is a Senior Buddhist teacher, author, and lecturer. For the past 19 years, Ethan has taught meditation and Buddhist psychology classes and workshops around New York City, North America and Europe, along with working with students privately. Ethan is the author of the acclaimed books The Road Home: A Contemporary Exploration of the Buddhist Path and The Dharma of The Princess Bride: What The Coolest Fairy Tale of Our Time Can Teach Us About Buddhism and Relationships. He is also the author of One City: A Declaration of Interdependence, and the Novella/poetry collection, Your Emoticons Won’t Save You, and his most recent book Confidence: Holding Your Seat Through Life’s Eight Worldly Winds. Ethan has been featured on CNN, NPR, ABC News, The New York Times, Vogue.com, Business Insider, Nautilus, and Vice to discuss Buddhism and meditation in the 21st Century.
Lou Sharma
Lou Sharma has practiced meditation for over a decade, and has studied Dharma within Tibetan Buddhist traditions since 2016. In 2021, she completed Dharma Moon's Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Training. Lou is also interested in the ways mindfulness can empower more compassionate cultures of work, inspired by 10+ years of experience as a corporate researcher and brand strategist.
DHARMA MOON'S YEARLONG BUDDHIST STUDIES COURSEÂ
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For those ready to go deeper, join Dharma Moon's renowned Yearlong Buddhist Studies program led by Ethan Nichtern, where you’ll explore these teachings in greater depth, engage in live discussions with experienced teachers, and receive ongoing support from a dedicated community of students. Click here for more information.
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