Three Marks Of Existence - Questions Unanswered

Tilakkhaṇa (Pali) or trilakṣmaṇa (Sanskrit) or 三相 (Chinese), translated as the three marks of all existence, is a basic doctrine of Buddhism. The three marks of existence are impermanence (anicca), dissatisfaction or suffering (dukkha), and no-self (anattā). According to Buddha, a full understanding of these three can bring an end to suffering.

What caused the universe to have this three marks of existence? Buddha did not answer this question. Instead, he gave the parable of the poisonous arrow to explain that it is not necessary to know the answer because the answer is irrelevant to the solution.

Because Buddha refuse to answer the question on what cause the universe to have this three mark of existence, we have to make the following assumption for Buddha's solution to work is:

1. The current universe which we live in where all things are impermanent (anicca) and all beings are suffering (dukkha) has always been like that, unchanging, and permanent;
2. The current universe has no beginning, or even if it has a beginning, this first cause does not interfere with the current universe, allowing it to remain unchanging and permanent.

The Bible tells us that the universe has a beginning and an end. The Bible also tells us that the universe has a creator God who has already laid out His plans for His creation. Finally, the Bible answered the question that Buddha refused to answer. How does the universe acquire this three marks of existence? Dukkha and anicca came about when Adam sinned. The universe has always been anattā, but men can no longer recognize it.

Thus if the Bible is true, Buddhism is false. If Buddhism is true, the Bible is false. The Bible and Buddhism cannot be both true.