This talk is the first of three talks regarding the fundamental nature of personal experience: anicca, dukkha and anatta.  The focus her is on three sub-categories of dukkha: Dukkha Dukkha (The distress associated with inhabiting a body), Sankhara Dukkha (The distress and confusion that comes from how the mind interprets experience) and Viparinama Dukkha (The distress and confusion that occurs as the result of circumstances changing beyond one’s control).  The review also addresses the causes of dukkha–craving and clinging–as well as ways to use mindfulness of breathing to decrease reactivity to the craving associated with dukkha and detachment regarding the internal “selfing story” of clinging,  There is an accompanying “Guided Dukkha Contemplation” posted the same day in the archives.

Here are the notes prepared for this talk:  Buddhist Three Characteristics Part 1

The next topic for review will be the characteristics of anicca, the transient nature of subjective experience.