Questions tagged [self]
The self tag has no usage guidance.
48
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How is it wrong to believe that a self exists, or that it doesn't?
the one place where the Buddha was asked point-blank whether or not
there was a self, he refused to answer. When later asked why, he said
that to hold either that there is a self or that there is ...
user2512
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7
answers
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What are examples of identity-view?
Identity view (sakkāya-diṭṭhi) is the first of the ten fetters.
The "eradication" of identity-view is important towards enlightenment.
Presumably, "eradication of identity-view" is ...
- 44.8k
52
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18
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If there is no soul, how can there be rebirth?
Anatta is often described as "not-self" which I understand to mean that our identities are illusions. But it's also described as "soullessness" which I think implies that there is no mind other than ...
user50
8
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9
answers
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Are all forms of Dukkha related to a sense of self?
A few days ago I started reading books about Paticcasamuppada because I realized how little and shallow was my understanding on this capital matter.
Despite getting the gist of it, I still have ...
- 2,104
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Why is "I have no self" a wrong view?
In the Sabbasava Sutta (MN2), the view that "I have no self" is listed as one of the six wrong views and one who holds this view will not be freed from suffering.
Questions:
Why is "I have no self" ...
- 36k
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4
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How come enlightened people don't have any laziness?
I just heard that enlightened people have zero laziness. How is it possible? What is "laziness" ? What is the connection between laziness and ego/desire?
Edit: Also that monk said: "Laziness is ...
- 695
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2
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What is awareness?
I understand that there is no self; yet there seems to be a never changing deeply seated, unfindable awareness attached to a human body that observes the sensations that arise and pass away.
This ...
- 53
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Does self end after death?
Does self end after death?
Please note:
In my question »death« means: the physical processes of brokenness, graying, wrinkling, break up of the aggregates, casting off of the body, interruption in ...
- 2,667
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How to view people with metta and karuna?
There are definitions of metta and karuna here: What are metta and karuna?
There's a metta-bhavana meditation.
I'm wondering how to practice these socially, though, e.g. as a lay person when talking ...
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Buddhism vs Advaita Vedanta
I understand that Advaita practitioners believe that we have an eternal self (consciousness) that is one with everything but that we are under an illusion that we are separate and through ...
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Soul and Self in buddhism
I've heard a lot of questions like, "who is there to enlighten if there is no self?"
Is that kind of question based on ignorance on the difference between Soul and Self? Or does Buddhism deny the ...
- 399
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Buddha's self-declaration without identity view and without conceit
In this question, the OP asked:
In the context of the four stages of enlightenment would it be right
to say that, without identity-view, there's no such thing as an
"enlightened person": ...
- 36k
0
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5
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235
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Is there any volition or will that I can manage or control?
In Buddha's teachings, all mind-related entities are "not-self" i.e.:
uncontrollable (opposite of controllable = when I want it I can make it happen, I can turn it on and off as I desire)
...
- 1,119
11
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What is it that is re-incarnated ? [duplicate]
I have been reading Mahayana philosophy.
It proposes non-self and that self does not exist in the 5 aggregates.
If the self/atman does not exist, what is that is re-incarnated?
How can nothing ...
- 1,082
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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, ...
- 61
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Reconciliation of Past Sins
If a person has murdered someone: ie. A fellow human being (eg. By directly attacking someone; or by indirect attack- by speech/action ; or by other means such as abortion) , what methods are ...
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Did the Buddha leave room for the possibility of a self?
Did the Buddha teach that a self or soul (whether permanent and fixed or impermanent and changing) cannot be found, did he teach that it cannot exist, or what?
- 6,999
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Unconscious Grasping to a Self
In daily life, I guess my self-grasping is not very salient; people tell me I'm considerate, open. However, I've written stories in the past, and in my fiction I project these fantasies that are ...
user7302
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6
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How many times has someone taken birth into samsara?
According to dependent origination I took birth (i.e I came into existence) due to ignorance.
My questions are :how many times it has happened that someone has taken birth into this samsara?
Since ...
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What is eradication of the fetter of identity-view (sakkāya-diṭṭhi)?
I'm asking this question based on this comment and this question.
It is well known that the goal of Buddhism is to end suffering.
However, it is popularly mistaken (as seen in the cited comment and ...
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The "empirical self" in Buddhism
Is it right to say that all Buddhists both do and don't believe in the "empirical self", as in the conscious mind and its concomitants?
And in order I might make sense of your answer, can the latter "...
user2512
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How does an ālaya-vijñāna work?
And in particular, is it eternal, unchanging and like any other formulation for a soul that we might have seen, in say Christianity or Hinduism?
This particular idea, that ālaya-vijñāna is like a ...
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If there's no "self" then why should I care about the future lives and nirvana?
English is my second language.
If there's no "self', and "I am" is just a "flow" or "mix" of information (dharma, karma, etc.); and if, when I die, "I" (body, illusory self, soul) will die but this ...
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How can I accept losing control of my mind and will?
After some reflection, I've noticed many of my mental hangups / dispositions (sankhara) were formed due to a deep seated fear of losing control over my mind / volition.
Examples that come to mind ...
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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/...
- 534
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How can Buddhism help with bad habits?
I have been suffering with addictions. Addictions are complex. Both that I suffer from are in abatement. I am in recovery as they say. I am getting medical support.
Besides the addiction I have bad ...
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How to live life after acknowledging anatta?
I acknowledge that there is no-self. But now I don't know what to do.
Previously I was driving a bus called life. Now I am no more the driver because according to anatta , I am not the driver. Since ...
- 3,985
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If there is no self how can Nirvana be described as bliss?
I've heard Nirvana described as a state of bliss, but if there is no self then how can it be described as bliss when nobody is there to experience it?
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Did the Buddha according to the suttas mean anything else by the word "self" beyond simply the aspect of control/power?
It looks like according to [the Anatta-lakkhana Sutta][1] one aspect that is considered "self" by the Buddha is power or control. Why did he use the word "self" instead of just "complete control/power"...
- 534
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How do Buddhists reconcile "Anatta" with Buddha supporting the existence of the Self in the Mahayana Mahaparininirvana Sutra?
In the third chapter of the Mahayana Mahaparininirvana Sutra, Buddha calls the Self real and permanent:
Then the Buddha said to all the bhiksus: "Do not say this. I now leave all the unsurpassed ...
user11522
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8
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If there is no Self , what Self is there to be affected by the karma which non-Self now performs?
If there is no Self , then what Self is there to be affected by the karma which the non-Self now performs?
EDIT: A similar question I guess was asked in Samyutta Nikaya and Buddha replied as follows :...
- 3,985
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Why did Buddha put so much emphasis on no-self?
Why should we care if we have no-self or have a self. Ultimately it is of no help. I know any buddhist teacher will say that feelings or body are not-self, so you shouldn't get attached to it, but ...
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Buddhists advise against "me and mine" does that include times?
Buddhists advise against "me and mine" does that include times? Do Buddhists really talk about "my" future past and present?
If so, what are the nature of those times? Specifically: will "my" ...
user2512
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6
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Is society the follower of Mara?
In day to day interaction, people treat me as if I exist. They say "'Dheeraj' would you like to see a movie?" They say "'Dheeraj' you are
married." They say, "Would you like to eat spicy food or ...
- 3,985
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Are there any attempts to prove the eternal blissful etc. self?
The mahaparinirvana sutra seems to claim that there is an eternal blissful and pure self
'Self' appears in the positive very many times in that sutra, e.g. here (Chapter 33) ,,,
Knowledge ["jnana"]...
user2512
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4
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A view of the self
I have often wondered about one particular riddle regarding the stages of the path. If Sakkāyadiṭṭhi, a view of the self, is one of the first fetters conquered at stream- entry, why is it that Māna, ...
- 545
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Is the conventional self "conventional" in the same way as dharmas are?
Is the conventional self "conventional" in the same way as dharmas are?
So if the conventionality of dharmas means that they arise and disappear each moment, or that they don't exist from ...
user21635
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5
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Why talk and think about self as noun?
We always talk and think about self as a noun. When reading Buddhist philosophy, I have never seen exceptions to this. Both "common sense looking" and "metaphysical looking" is looking for the self.
...
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What happens to grasping at 'self' after termination of life?
Please answer these two questions:
1a. Suppose there is an ignorant person named X who is grasping to the aggregates as 'self' (let's call this just 'grasping'). Suppose X's material body is being ...
- 2,667
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What is the meaning of the word Uncreate?
This link mentions that there is an existence of uncreate state of self(opposite of created state of self..correct me if I am wrong..).
The man who is without blind faith, who knows the Uncreated, ...
- 3,985
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What is the Buddhist definition of "Atta"?
There are many discussions about Anatta or Not-Self in Buddhist communities, but the definition of Atta or self is uncommon and not clear. People often misunderstand or superficially translate it, ...
- 1,119
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Has anyone read Nagarjuna as claiming only that an effect is never its cause?
Has anyone read Nagarjuna as claiming only that an effect can never be conceived of as its cause?
I'm asking because it would neatly fit my own views on how to understand science, as well as I think ...
user2512
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7
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As a Buddhist, how shall we make sense of the notion that there is no such thing as a Soul?
The three marks of existence is: Impermanence, Suffering, and No-Self.
If there is no-self, then there is no Soul.
Our cognitive abilities is the result of the physical (Brain organ) and the non-...
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1
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Self like a diamond
I read a parable once, a long time ago:
The Buddha meets someone else, some kind of yogi, who is maybe a supernatural being or has supernatural powers.
They have a duel, involving swords.
The yogi is ...
- 44.8k
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What happens when your tank is empty, and you’ve got nothing left to give?
Today I happen to read the article “Charitable giving by country: who is the most generous?”
Then this question came up. When it comes to generosity, sometimes people look at what they’ve got and ...
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3
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When saying that the aggregate is not-self are we not predicting the existence of a thing called self?
Parmenides, a presocratic philosopher, said:
The only roads of inquiry there are to think of: one, that it is and
that it is not possible for it not to be, this is the path of
persuasion (for ...
- 13
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Questions about strong acceptance of rebirth?
In a nutshell, the Buddha's teaching is:
self-views ("I have a self" and/or "I have no self") must be avoided
craving is a precondition for suffering, thus we must train ourselves to gain control ...
- 2,667
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What is meant by "Practice the truth thy brother is same as thou"?
We are different. Our upbringing is different.Our sanskaras are different. We are made up of sanskaras therefore every self must be different. Yet Buddha says Practice the truth that thy brother is ...
- 3,985