1. As I have explained in many posts, Four Noble Truths is the same as Paticca Samuppada. Those encompass Tilakkhana (anicca, dukkha, anatta.) None of those is known in the absence of a Buddha.
- See, for example, “Paṭicca Samuppāda, Tilakkhana, Four Noble Truths.” Of course, the series of discourses (referred to in this thread) discuss that too.
- None of those is known to the world in the absence of a Buddha.
2. It is a waste of time to read any document that translates anicca as impermanence and anatta as no-self.
3. If a Tipitaka reference can be provided for the following statement, we can discuss that: “The characteristics of anicca and dukkha are known whether Buddhas arise or not.” There is no such reference!
- Note the dukkha in the above statement cannot be taken as merely “suffering” either. Suffering is dukha. Since suffering is known to even animals, a Buddha is not needed to show us that “suffering exists.”
- On the other hand, dukkha is “dukha + khaya.” Without a Buddha, we will not know how to overcome that suffering, i.e., the Dukkha Sacca.