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In the rush of daily life, we rarely pause to ask the most fundamental question: What is real? Is reality the solid desk in front of you, the body you inhabit, the thoughts swirling in your head? Or is it something deeper, subtler — something hidden beneath the surface of appearances?

The Buddha, over 2,500 years ago, offered not just answers to this question, but a way to see directly into the nature of reality itself. Through simple but profound sayings, he pointed to the truths that govern all of existence: impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, and non-self. These sayings are not abstract theories — they are invitations to look again, to observe life as it is, and to awaken from our illusions.

In this article, we’ll explore some of the most essential Buddhist sayings that define the view of reality. We’ll unpack their meaning, see how they relate to daily life, connect them to Buddhist philosophy, and offer gentle ways to reflect and practice.

Let’s begin with the words that open the doorway to insight:

“All conditioned things are impermanent.” — Dhammapada 277

🧘 1. “All conditioned things are impermanent.”

(Sabbe saṅkhārā aniccā)

This concise saying from the Dhammapada is one of the most repeated truths in Buddhist teachings. To understand it is to begin to understand reality from the Buddhist perspective.

What does “conditioned” mean?

In Buddhist terms, a conditioned thing (saṅkhāra) is anything that arises due to causes and conditions. Your thoughts, your emotions, your relationships, your body, the seasons — all of these depend on other things to arise and thus are impermanent.

Why is impermanence essential?

The Buddha did not say impermanence to discourage us — he said it to awaken us. When we realize everything changes, we stop clinging so tightly. We begin to appreciate things as they are, while they last. A child’s laughter, a warm meal, a sunny afternoon — all become precious in their fleetingness.

Reflection:

“Can I love this moment without needing it to last?”
“Where in my life am I resisting change?”

🌊 2. “All conditioned things are unsatisfactory.”

(Sabbe saṅkhārā dukkhā) — Dhammapada 278

The second of the Buddha’s three universal characteristics reveals another truth: dukkha, often translated as suffering, stress, or unsatisfactoriness.

We chase pleasure, comfort, recognition — yet no matter what we get, it doesn’t last. And when it’s gone, we often feel empty again. Why? Because conditioned things cannot give us lasting satisfaction.

Not pessimism, but clarity

This is not a gloomy worldview — it is a wise one. The Buddha invites us to look beyond surface pleasures and see the deeper truth: real peace is not found in grasping at changing things.

Every worldly success is like sand slipping through the fingers.

But instead of despair, we are offered freedom — freedom from the endless chase.

Reflection:

“What am I trying to hold on to that never truly satisfies me?”
“What might it feel like to let go — just a little?”

🌿 3. “All phenomena are not-self.”

(Sabbe dhammā anattā) — Dhammapada 279

This third saying completes the Buddha’s teaching on the three marks of existence: impermanence (anicca), unsatisfactoriness (dukkha), and not-self (anattā).

We often assume there’s a permanent “I” behind our thoughts and actions. But if you observe carefully, that “self” is always shifting — shaped by memories, moods, roles, and reactions.

Who is the “I”?

The Buddha pointed out that what we call “I” is just a process — a collection of changing parts: body, sensations, perceptions, mental formations, and consciousness. None of them stays the same. None of them can be clung to as a true, unchanging self.

This is not to say we don’t exist — but that the kind of separate, fixed identity we cling to is an illusion. When we loosen that illusion, we suffer less, take things less personally, and grow more compassionate toward others.

Reflection:

“Who am I without my name, my story, or my roles?”
“Can I notice how the ‘self’ changes moment to moment?”

🌐 4. “This is, because that is.”

— Teaching of Dependent Origination (Paṭicca Samuppāda)

Perhaps the most profound insight into reality offered by the Buddha is this:

“When this is, that is. When this ceases, that ceases.”

This is the law of interdependence. Nothing arises on its own. Everything is connected.

A tree needs sunlight, water, soil, and time. A person needs parents, language, food, and community. Even your thoughts depend on your past, your environment, and countless unseen influences.

Reality is not made of isolated “things” — it is a web of conditions constantly interacting. This view breaks down separation and leads to compassion: when we see that we are not separate, we treat others with care.

Reflection:

“What conditions support my happiness or suffering?”
“How am I shaped by what I consume — food, media, emotions?”

🧠 5. “With our thoughts, we make the world.”

— Dhammapada 1

The first verse of the Dhammapada reminds us: Mind is the forerunner of all things. What you think and believe shapes how you experience the world.

If you think people are out to get you, you’ll see threats. If you think people are kind, you’ll see kindness. If you live with gratitude, life feels abundant. If you live with resentment, everything feels unfair.

Reality is not only external — it is deeply colored by our inner world.

Reflection:

“What kind of world do my thoughts create?”
“What thought patterns am I reinforcing?”

🔇 6. “Better than a thousand hollow words is one word that brings peace.”

— Dhammapada 100

Truth, from the Buddhist view, is not found in argument or noise. It is found in stillness, insight, and peace.

We live in an age of information — but not always of wisdom. This saying reminds us that a moment of silence can reveal more than a torrent of words. A single insight — deeply seen — can change a life.

Reflection:

“What noise can I let go of?”
“What truth do I already know, but rarely listen to?”

🏠 How These Sayings Speak to Daily Life

Let’s take these ancient sayings and bring them into real-world situations:

A parent watching their child grow

“All conditioned things are impermanent.”
The child’s laughter, their tiny hands — all will change. This saying doesn’t ask us to detach in coldness, but to love fully while it lasts. To be present, rather than distracted.

A worker burnt out from constant striving

“All conditioned things are unsatisfactory.”
The next promotion won’t bring lasting peace. The perfect job won’t end all anxiety. These words call us to look deeper for well-being — not outside, but within.

Someone struggling with identity and self-worth

“All phenomena are not-self.”
You are not your failures. You are not your success either. The “self” is not a fixed box — it’s a river. Let it flow. Let it change. Be kind to yourself.

📖 Rooted in the Buddha’s Teachings

These sayings are not modern reinterpretations — they are drawn directly from the Pāli Canon, especially the Dhammapada and discourses on the Three Marks of Existence.

They also relate to:

Together, these teachings offer a coherent and liberating view of reality — one not based on belief, but on observation and awakening.

🌱 Try It for Yourself: Simple Practices

🧘‍♂️ 1. Mindfulness of Change

Spend a day noticing how things change: the sky, your mood, the sounds around you. Whisper to yourself, “This too is changing.” Let this become a gentle mantra that loosens your grip on permanence.

🪞 2. Question the Self

When you feel reactive — angry, hurt, proud — ask:

“Who is feeling this? Is this feeling lasting? Is this me?”
This isn’t to deny your experience, but to create space around it — and with space, comes freedom.

📓 3. Journal Prompt

“What truths about reality have I avoided seeing?”
“What might become lighter if I stop clinging?”

🪷 Let This Wisdom Settle Gently

Reality, from the Buddhist perspective, is not harsh or meaningless. It is dynamic, interconnected, and full of potential for awakening.

“All conditioned things are impermanent. All conditioned things are unsatisfactory. All phenomena are not-self.”
(Dhammapada 277–279)

These words are not meant to scare or sadden. They are meant to free you. To remind you that what you cling to will change — and so, peace is not found in clinging. It is found in presence, clarity, and compassion.

Let these sayings echo in your mind today — like bells ringing in a quiet temple. Let them guide you not toward ideas, but toward seeing.

Because when you truly see reality as it is, suffering begins to fall away.