Four Hallmarks of Buddhist Philosophy

The Four Hallmarks are the four statements said to encapsulate all of Mahayana Buddhist teachings. The order of presentation follows that of the Nyingma scholar Mipham and interpolates several other main teachings as sub-topics. Learning this outline and connecting the dots often helps new students or even long-time Buddhists get a clear picture of how different Buddhist teachings fit together.

1) Hallmark: "All conditioned things are impermanent.” 

‹ Dependent Arising of the world

‹ Three types of Dependence

2) Hallmark: “All negatively influenced things are suffering” (explained through Four Noble Truths)

‹ Noble Truth of Suffering

‹ Five Emotional Infections (klesha) - as result

‹ Six Desire-based Realms

‹ Noble Truth of the Source of Suffering

‹ Negatively influences - Underlying and immediate

‹ Five Emotional Infections (klesha) - as cause

‹ Karma

‹ Dependent Arising of Suffering - Chain of Causality with 12 Links

‹ Noble Truth  of the Cessation of Suffering

‹ Temporary Cessation without insight

‹ Lasting Cessation with insight into emptiness

‹ Noble Truth of the Path leading to cessation of Suffering

‹ Three Areas of Training

‹ Two Accumulations - Merit and Wisdom

‹ Shravaka and Bodhisattva Motivations

‹ Five Paths and Two Goals

‹ Three Vehicles

3) Hallmark: "Nirvana is peace."

‹ Restricted Nirvana of an Arhat or Pratyekabuddha

‹ Complete Nirvana of a Buddha

‹ Four Transcendent Qualities

‹ Threefold Body of a Buddha

‹  Five Nondual Wisdoms

4) Hallmark: "All things are empty of identity."

‹ Mindset of Awakening: Ultimate and Relative

‹ Ultimate Wisdom of Emptiness

‹ Five Aggregates and the Chariot example

‹ Emptiness of Personal Identity

‹ Emptiness of Any Identity

‹ Relative Compassion