Linked Questions

13 votes
12 answers
2k views

If there is no self, why do anything?

My limited understanding of Buddhism has already helped me in many ways and I am very glad to have found it. With that said, I have always wondered about this title question. If there is no 'I', ...
tamatama's user avatar
  • 131
17 votes
5 answers
3k views

How are 'conceit' and 'identity-view' not the same?

Looking at the Lists of fetters I see "conceit" and "identity view" listed separately ... and the four stages of enlightenment say that identity view will be abandoned (in the first stage) before ...
ChrisW's user avatar
  • 46.4k
11 votes
7 answers
5k views

What is the difference between non-self and emptiness?

Non-self (anātman) and emptiness (śūnya or śūnyatā) are very similar aspects of the Truth of Suffering. So similar that they are hard to distinguish apart. What is the difference between them? (Or ...
catpnosis's user avatar
  • 2,009
6 votes
8 answers
1k views

Hesitation between Buddhism and Advaita Vedanta

I hesitate between Buddhism and Advaita Vedanta. Buddhism pleases me very much for its willingness to seek an end to suffering, being depressed it speaks to me a lot. But intellectually, ...
Advos's user avatar
  • 61
9 votes
8 answers
1k views

How do I deal with Buddhist teaching's complexity?

I'm feeling very overwhelmed by the sheer amount of different things to remember and practice. Firstly the four foundations of mindfulness Im not sure when one is meant to practice each one. Do you do ...
Sati's user avatar
  • 519
4 votes
8 answers
3k views

How to avoid apathy in the absence of self?

I have noticed in my meditation / mindfulness practice the following: as the idea of self dissolves, the ideas of compassion, happiness, sorrow, and basically everything that a "person" might ...
Stanley's user avatar
  • 331
8 votes
4 answers
2k views

What is Buddhism's view on past lives?

I have often come across this - our past karma will bear its fruits in the present life or in the future one. So how does one identify the events is the because of past karma? Where is information ...
user5256's user avatar
  • 503
5 votes
7 answers
823 views

Annatta and taking responsibility

I'm a bit confused about "not self". How do you take responsibility for your actions if you don't see them as your actions but just a process happening? For example if you're an alcoholic part of the ...
Arturia's user avatar
  • 2,730
3 votes
4 answers
346 views

Should I identify myself as formless?

Namo Buddhaya. Sabbe Dhamma Anatta. Form is Anatta too. Meaning form is not worth identifying as myself, me or mine. Does that mean that I should identify myself as formless ? Am I in form or am I ...
Dheeraj Verma's user avatar
4 votes
8 answers
435 views

Is there a real difference between "not-self" and "no self", and if so, which one is correct?

Just in case someone is interested, this is a question based on this thread, but it's not necessary to read such discussion to understand and answer this question. I'd like to know about the ...
Brian Díaz Flores's user avatar
5 votes
6 answers
425 views

Did the Buddha ever define what he meant by "self"?

Added: I am asking this because I am not sure if anything I observe would be considered "self" according to the Buddha. I don't have this problem with craving or suffering because I can observe/...
Angus's user avatar
  • 554
3 votes
5 answers
520 views

How does the experience of "realisation of Sunyata" differ from "realisation of Anatta"?

In what ways does the experience of "realisation of Sunyata" differ from the experience of "realisation of Anatta", for the practitioner? The two aims are apparently non confirming, as far as I know, ...
ARi's user avatar
  • 223
2 votes
8 answers
440 views

The relation between Dhamma and reality itself

What is the orthodox position or the sutta's position about the knowledge of reality itself, beyond any intervention of subjective factors? In science, when we find evidence that proves some ...
Brian Díaz Flores's user avatar
-5 votes
6 answers
619 views

If Buddhists believe that life is just suffering why don't they just kill themselves?

Can anyone give me a clear answer? What does the Buddha say?
nomel7's user avatar
  • 91
5 votes
10 answers
606 views

If there be no soul or transmigrating entity that takes rebirth, who or what bears or enjoys the consequences or fruits of karma?

How can a religion or school of thought justify or rationalise the proposal that potential suffering could be inflicted on a subsequent rebirth - to all intents and purposes, a new individual, ...
NotThisAgain's user avatar

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