Do you agree with the concept of No-self (anatta)? Think, Pair, Share ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not myself’ – The Buddha. Do you agree with the concept of No-self (anatta)? Discuss in pairs.

anatta/anatman (no self )

Learning Outcomes To be able explain the nature of anatta. To be able to analyse the five aggregates of existence. To be able to evaluate the validity of the concept of no-self.

Buddhism is the Middle Way between the two. Denial of the atman Anatta is the denial of the teaching that there is an atta (Pali) or atman (Sanskrit), which roughly translated means a soul. Atman is the word given in Hinduism to the true self which continues to exist eternally, and which travels from one body to another in the process of reincarnation (as opposed to rebirth in Buddhism). One of the ways in which the Buddha challenged the teaching of the Brahmins of his day was by challenging this orthodox Hindu belief in the self. For this reason anatta is often translated as 'no self'. It is the rejection of both eternalism (e.g. Brahmin/Hindu atman) and annihilationism (a belief that after the final judgment some human beings will be totally destroyed). Buddhism is the Middle Way between the two.

The nature of anatta/anatman However, the Buddha does not claim that there is definitely not a self, only that the self we tend to identify with is not fixed. Instead, we consist in a process. The teaching of impermanence which we have already examined points out that we are always changing, and this also implies that there is no fixed part of ourselves which remains unchanged. If nothing remains unchanged, there is nothing which can contain a fixed or final identity. There are various aspects of our bodies and minds which we may identify with and believe to be our true selves, but the Buddhist teaching is that we should avoid attachment to the idea of any of these as really ourselves. It is this which has led to the teaching of the five skandhas, which provides an analysis of what we might suppose to be ourselves in order to show that it is all merely process.

What do we really mean by no-self? Read the article and summarise it in 5 key points in your notes: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Pg 120-124 Top Philosopher task: What does the term Nirvana literally mean? How does it link to anatta? Stretch yourself: Could you believe in Anicca without having to believe in Anatta?

Interpretation of the text : The chariot analogy in The Questions of King Milinda (Book II, Chapter 1.1) Draw a diagram of the chariot analogy… Make sure you include an explanation of how it relates to anatta. Interpretation of the text : Original Text: Stretch yourself: Do you agree with this analogy? Give reasons in your notes. Top Philosopher task: How does the ‘The ship of Theseus’ support the Buddhist idea of no-self?

The understanding of the five khandhas/skandhas (bundles/ aggregates) Skandhas (Sanskrit) or khandhas (Pāḷi) means "heaps, aggregates, collections, groupings". In Buddhism, the five aggregates concept asserts that there are five elements which constitute and completely explain a sentient being’s mental and physical existence. The five aggregates or heaps are: Form/rupa (the physical elements of the human body) Sensations/vedana (the feelings we have as a result of the senses contacting the outside world) Perceptions/sanna (what we become aware of as a result of the sense contacting the outside world) Impulses/sankhara (resulting from our internal will) Consciousness/vinnana (basic awareness of being alive with thoughts, feelings.

The understanding of the five khandhas/skandhas (bundles/ aggregates) The skandhas explain what is a "being or individual", and the skandhas theory complements the anatta doctrine. The anatta and "five aggregates" doctrines are part of the liberating knowledge in Buddhism, as a person realises that there is no-self, a being is five aggregates, each of which are "not I, and not my self“. Draw and outline of a human being! Then fill him or her with information about each of the five aggregates. Stretch yourself: Explain how the concept of no-self links to objects too.

Is anatta/anatman is an accurate description of conditioned experience? Complete the zig-zag in your notes. Zig-zag from arguments that support and criticise the statement. For Against For Against Stretch yourself: To reach a better A02 grade you must always link your arguments… Top Philosopher task: Include synoptic links from the mind, body, soul topic.

Is anatta/anatman is an accurate description of conditioned experience? Number yourselves on your table. Move round your table and share a your reasons! If you are an even number give a reason why someone would agree the statement. If you are an odd number give a reason why someone would disagree with the statement.