Almost all main religions including Christianity, Islam and Hinduism are based on concept of self or soul. Buddhism stand unique that it is the only philosophy that not only clearly reject the concept of “self/soul” as a false view, but also consider this false view as a major cause of suffering of individuals as well as one of the root cause of problems in the society as whole. The vast majority of people still believe in ‘self’ or ‘soul’ and therefore, almost all the economic principles, political views and other social aspects molded by people who believe in this false concept carry the same falsity. Most of the current marketing, advertising and even management concepts are highly based on accepting the existence of ‘self’ or ‘soul’. We can easily understand current world problems and unrest of people by clearly understanding the false concept of ‘self/soul’ in the light of the Buddha’s unique teaching of Anatta (not-self/no-soul).
The concept of self/soul
What in general is suggested by Soul, Self, Ego, or to use Sanskrit expression Atman, is that in man there is a permanent, everlasting and absolute entity, which is the unchanging substance behind the changing phenomenal world. According to some religions, each individual has such a separate soul which is created by God, and which, finally after death, lives eternally either in heaven or hell, its destiny depending on the judgment of its creator. According to others, it goes through many lives till it is fully purified, become finally united with God or Brahman, Universal Soul or Atman, from which it originally emanated. This soul or self in man is thinker of thoughts, feeler of sensations, and receiver of rewards and punishments for all its actions good and bad. Such a concept is called the idea of Self.
Doctrine of Anatta (Not-self/No-soul)
Buddhism stands unique in the history of human thought in denying the existence of such a Soul, Self, or Atman. According to the teaching of the Buddha, the idea of the self is an imaginary, false belief which has no corresponding reality, and it produces harmful thoughts of ‘me’ and ‘mine’, selfish desire, craving, attachment, hatred, ill-will, conceit, pride, egoism, and other defilements, impurities and problems. It is source of all the troubles in the world from personal conflicts to wars between nations. In short, to this false view can be traced all the evil in the world.
The origin of false concept of self/soul
Two ideas are psychologically deep-rooted in man: self-protection and self-preservation. For self-protection, man has created God, on whom he depends for his own protection, safety and security, just as child depends on his parent. Foe self-preservation man has conceived the idea of an immortal Soul or Atman, which will live eternally. In this ignorance, weakness, fear and desire, man needs these two things to console himself. Hence he clings to them deeply and frantically.
The unique stand of Buddhism
The Buddha’s teaching does not support this ignorance, weakness, fear and desire, but aims at making man enlightened by removing and destroying them, striking their very root. According to Buddhism, our ideas of Soul and God are false and empty. Though highly developed as theories, they are all the same extremely subtle mental projections, grabbed in an intricate metaphysical and phraseology. These ideas are so deep rooted in man, and so dear and near to him, that he does not wish to hear, nor he want to understand, any teaching against them.
Acknowledged only by intellectuals
The Buddha knew this quite well. In fact he said that his teaching was ‘against the current’ (patisotagamini), against man’s selfish desires. Just four weeks after his Enlightenment, seated under banyan tree, he thought to himself: “I have realized this Truth which is against the current, which is lofty, deep, subtle and hard to comprehend.”
With this thought in his mind, the Buddha hesitated for a moment, whether it would not be in vain if tried to explain to the world the Truth he had just realized. Then he compared the world to a lotus pond: In a lotus pond, there are some lotuses still under water; there are others which have risen only up to the water level; there are still others which stand above water and untouched by it. In the same way, in this world, there are men at different levels of development. Some would understand the Truth. So the Buddha decided to teach it.
Conventional reality vs. ultimate reality
In order to avoid confusion it should be mentioned here that there are two kinds of truths: conventional truth (sammuti-sacca, Skt. samvrti-satya) and ultimate truth (paramattha-sacca, Skt. Paramartha-satya). When we use such expressions in our daily life as ‘I’, ‘You’, ‘being’, ‘individual’, etc., we do not lie because there is no self or being of such, but we speak a truth conforming to the convention of the world. But ultimate truth is that there is no ‘I’ or ‘being’ in reality.
In the Alagaddupama-sutta, of Majjima-Nikaya , addressing his disciples, the Buddha said: ‘O bhikkhus, accept the soul theory (Attavada) in the acceptance of which there would not arise grief, lamentation, suffering, distress and tribulation’. But do you see, O bhikkhus, such a soul theory in the acceptance of which there would not arise grief, lamentation, suffering, distress and tribulation?’
‘Certainly not Sir’
‘Good, O bhikkhus. I too do not see a soul theory, in the acceptance of which there would not arise grief, lamentation, suffering, distress and tribulation’
Continuing the discourse the Buddha said in the same sutta:
‘O bhikkhus, when neither self nor anything pertaining to self can truly and really be found, this speculative view: “The universe is that Atman (Soul); I shall be that after death, permanent, abiding, ever-lasting, unchanging, and I shall exist as such for eternity” – is not wholly and completely foolish?’
Here Buddha explicitly states that an Atman or Soul, or Self, is nowhere to be found in reality, and it is foolish to believe that there is such a thing.
The Buddha’s teaching on Anatta, No-Soul, or No-Self, should not be considered as a negative or annihilistic. Like Nibbana, it's Truth, Reality; and Reality can not be negative. It is the false belief in a non-existing imaginary self that is negative. The teaching of Anatta dispels the darkness of false beliefs, and produces the light of wisdom.
Even a person who has attained the early stages of realization still retain this feeling “I AM”. But later on, when he progress further, this feeling of “I AM” altogether disappears, just as chemical smell of a freshly washed cloth disappears after a time when it is kept in a box. The more you realize the reality of anatta (not-self), you will see the world in its true context. You will no longer be a slave of various political/marketing/management mechanisms, but a truly independent person.
References and acknowledgment:
This article is mostly based on excerpts from the chapter VI of “What the Buddha Taught by” Ven. Walpola Rahula.
You may order this book on-line from Buddhist Cultural Cetre Sri Lanka.
14 comments:
Sinhalese Buddhist > Sinhalese > Buddhist > My Self > Anatta
Long long way to go..
Dear Sam,
you seem to have lost the forest in the eye of a conceptual tree. Better read the following section in the post.
"Conventional reality vs. ultimate reality"
Buddhism clearly didn't make Sri Lanka a better place it only brought up corrupt,selfish and blood sucking people in Sri Lanka. It's better all Buddhist in Sri Lanka embrace a religion of reality Like Islam or Christianity. I was a buddhist once and I know how buddhists behave with fellow buddhist. See what's happening to State TV. fellow buddhist are attaccking fellow buddhist. You know a religion who doesn't have love for their fellow members, how could you accept to love other religious people. How would you give rights to other citizens where you don't even recognise the rights of fellow people.
The problem is not in the religion or race. The problem is in the level of development of the people.
>>
Then he compared the world to a lotus pond: In a lotus pond, there are some lotuses still under water; there are others which have risen only up to the water level; there are still others which stand above water and untouched by it. In the same way, in this world, there are men at different levels of development.
Current chaos in Sri Lanka is not because of Buddhism, rather lack of adhering to Buddhist way of life. Western influence and the centuries of Westerner's rule and their way of spreading christianity have contributed to the erosion of Buddhist values in Sri Lanka. The Western materialistic thinking is the root cause for corrupt, selfish, blood sucking behavior that some people in Sri Lanka exhibit. Please don't blame Buddhism. You abandoned Buddhism because some, who claimed to be buddhists, behave badly. That is a very shallow reason for rejecting your religion. Please follow the religion yourself and see if it works. If it doesn't work, you have all rights to say I don't like it.
Hi,
Some what I can agree the comments against Bhuddism practice in SL.
Most of the monks, specially in the cities in SL are attached to temple,
Money, Vehicles and fame other than Dhamma itself.
Please remember Buddha never preached Buddhism, he expounded the Dhamma How the worldly phenomena arises and passes way and how people attached to this suffering through out their lives. Understanding Dhamma properly brings you
From misery to happiness, bondage to liberation, from cruelty to compassion and eventually to cessation of Birth. Money, fame and knowledge have no place in Dhamma. In there only wisdom and mindfulness. Though many believe that they are Buddhist, there is no definition for that. We have borrowed Christian definition that person born to Christian parent is a Christian which has no meaning in Dhamma until you practice it properly. Buddha clearly mentioned that his followers are Bhikku, Bhikkuni, Upasaka( Lay men practisioners) Upasika( Lay women practitioners). That is it and that is all. There are no other person can be a Buddhist. All other who say casually Buddhist are doing what ever they want thinking that they are following Dhamma. Even lot of monks in SL also have forgotten the great path ( 8 Fold noble path)Buddha showed them but deluded with their attachments to worldly things.
May wisdom arise within you soon
With loving kindness.
First Anon,
“Reality” is not an relative concept. (Nirvana is another concept like that) When you use that sort of a word, you cannot use an Adjective front of that and expect to make sense at the same time. If it is reality, then it is reality. Reality is ultimate – that is why we call it reality. Word “truth” other hand is relative and a mortal. There can be deferent version of ‘Truths’.
Setting that a side, I still could not find any connection to my comment in your reply. All I can say is “I have country, I have religion," thinking thus, the fool torments himself. But, when he is not the possessor of his own self, how then of country? How then of religion”
Second Anon,
I watch state TV. Never heard the news ‘10 Buddhists attacked 10 Buddhists today’. Noop, never seen that. But I saw ‘a politician attacked journalists today’. FYI, there are no ‘members’ in the Buddhism. Have you ever got a membership card or a registration application or some sort of a gentile mutilation when you were a “Buddhist”? I guess not.
And secondly, Buddhism does not have a “right basket” like religions, and give people rights, such as use of condoms, or shaving. There is an institute call “government” in Sri Lanka, and they are the one who manage ‘rights’ and they are the one who suppose to make Sri Lanka a better place. I know that is a broken institute, but that is a deferent story.
Could you please tell me one religion that loves other religious people? All the religions I know of give ‘rights’ to slay none believers, rape their virgin daughters, kill their sons and burn their villages. And after that, they put them in to an oven in the place call hell and burn slowly in dry heat – forever.
"Buddhism clearly didn't make Sri Lanka a better place it only brought up corrupt,selfish and blood sucking people in Sri Lanka."
JR, CBK, Ranil.. Are all these rulers practical Buddhists? NO
They are post colonial anglican ghosts pretending to be Buddhists.
Their grand fathers were Christian comprodors!!!
We never had practical Buddhists rule our country.
The UK, Norway and other European countries are influenced us to keep Buddhists away from the helm. This is the reality. This is what we all must understand and fight against !!
The trend has now changed. "Mathata thitha" has started. Cultural changes has started. people look for practical Buddhism and leaders following it. Gonna is the days of post colonial Anglican politics. Long live Ranil in opposition with the mercy of Norway and church. He has good acompany of Ravi, John, Johnston, Jayalath, Josseph, and Prabakaran.
Madu will be the last stronghold of LTTE. Buddhismm is unique and all evil forces against it because it reveal the naked truth of false views!!!
Those who blame monks are mostly non-Buddhists or those who does not practice Buddhism.
What wrong has JHU done to this country so far?
Can U name one wrong thing?
U can not !!!
The thieves and liars and crooks in the Parliament fear even seeing monks in the Parliament, because presence of monks always remind them the hell these petty politicians are due in next life.. :-)
Better read the book "Heritage of Bhikku" by Walpola Rahula thero.
Guys lets talk on the concept of no-soul rather than politics :-)
Sam..
"All the religions I know of give ‘rights’ to slay none believers, rape their virgin daughters, kill their sons and burn their villages. And after that, they put them in to an oven in the place call hell and burn slowly in dry heat – forever."
This never apply to Buddhism.
Were there any religious wars in the world that Buddhists involved?
Has buddhism ever promoted by the power of gun? Has this the same for Christianity , Islam or even Hinuism?
Still we are attacked in "Dalada Maligawa", "Sri maha bodiya" etc,,
Sam, either you must prove from Tripitaka that Buddhism promote this view or it clearly shows that you know nothing about Buddhism.
Waruni, I don’t have to. Buddhism simply lack of all the characteristics for it to be a religion. It does not declare it have the absolute truth. it do not demand complete surrender. it do not demand faith. It even does not demand anyone to follow that. And most of all there is no rules in Buddhism too.
Now some may point me out the behaviors of Sri Lankan monks and so call Sinhalese Buddhist people whom demands new religious laws and just do everything above. That happened in Sri Lanka because they make Buddhism also in to a religion and there are group of people make a living doing just that.
Anonymous,
// What wrong has JHU done to this country so far? Can U name one wrong thing?//
Yes. They brought religion in to politics. If you have knowledge in history, you may know that is the worst thing can happen to any democracy and development of any society. Look at medieval Europe. Look at Pakistan, Middle East.
Siddartha was a political leader – as the story says, he could have been the executive political leader if he wanted to. But he gave up politics and become a monk. He got invitations to become a politician even after. He still refuses to practice politics. Politics and laws are not the Buddhist way. That is the principle of Islam or evangelicals. So I have to assume anyone who follows Islamic/Christian principle, including those JHU monks are Muslim or Mormons.
I am Sinhala-Buddhist and have been living in North America for a long time. Here are my observations:
o In Lanka, Buddhism is mostly ritualistic and very few practice the abhidharama
o In the Americas, it is exactly the opposite - many are interested in the deep dharma of Buddhism as part of personal spiritual searching
o In Lanka, only a very small % of Buddhists practice the 5 basic precepts
o In the Americas, irrespective of their religion, most practice the 5 precepts (certainly many more than in Sri Lanka) - i.e. they are more Buddhist-like here than in Lanka
o In Lanka, most Buddhist monks are corrupt to the core - violating the very basic principles of Buddhism
o In the Americas, Buddhism has been taking root only during the last 35 years or so, and it is a form of mixed Buddhism - Zen, Theravada, Mahayana and other sects. The Buddhist monks here are lot more pious than in Lanka
o In Lanka, Buddhism is highly politisized
o In Americas, as all religions, Buddhism is separate from government and therefore is lot more pure (or not politicized)
o In Lanka, the Buddhist Clergy is a political institution with enormous power. The clery is addicted to this power - thus their primary motive to ensure preservation of Sinhalese-Buddhist fundamentalism
o In the Americas, none of the churches wield such political clout, the Conservative Baptists, Evangelicals and the Roman Catholic Church though are strong, their collective powers are no where close to that of the Buddhist Clergy in SL
And finally message to this blogger: And it is because the great truths in impermeanence that you should not be so attached to Mahavamsa-Sinhala-Buddhist nonsense, let the past go, and device an equitable political solution.
Good article, Thank you!
Dear Friends,
Understand of reality benefits only to oneself who needs it. Blaming others will take anyone no where as this is the existance based on false understanding. Look into self and understand what is going on in the mind.
Stop drinking alcohol not to force others to do the same but to stop destroy the mind that needs. healing
Forgetting past history may relieve someone from anger.
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