Often when we talk about Prajna (wisdom) in Buddhist circles, the three characteristics of existence are pointed to as part of the ultimate understanding of reality: all conditioned things are impermanent, unsatisfactory, and not self. Stephen Batchelor has reinterpreted this teaching and instead talks about them as three basic facts of human experience: nothing is permanent, personal, or perfect.

This is such an easy and uncomplicated way of looking at life with understanding. Of course, we see how quickly everything passes… The most anticipated events of our lives are over seemingly in a heartbeat. As time goes on, we learn that the more we take the vicissitudes of life as being personal to us the more heartache we create for ourselves. And, oh as much as we wish it were untrue… nothing is perfect.