Three-Term Concept in Buddhism

Subject: Religion
Pages: 2
Words: 547
Reading time:
2 min

No Self

The question of whether one has either self or No self is asked often among the Buddha religion. In fact, the Buddha agrees that if one does not have a self, then, the person has No Self. The essence of the argument is that human beings ever seek happiness, which in the end, they might not meet. Indeed, there is no lasting happiness in the world, but, from within the individual. Therefore, if one does not have the inner reality that is permanent, he or she cannot achieve innate or self-happiness. Buddha also argues that there is no permanent self, and the characteristic of people is No Self, which applies to all human beings. In reality, the permanent soul and self does not exist in a person, since once, the living individual dies, both the self and the soul cease to exist, thereby, creating a situation of selflessness.

According to Mitchell, there can be a situation when one notices some people and fails to recognize the presence of the other, within that specific environment. This happens due to the orientation of one’s ability to sense the presence of other people. Therefore, the fact that the presence of others is not sensed indicates there can be No Self, even if the person recognizes him/herself as a permanent being.

Dissatisfactory Nature of Life

The fact that different people are born under different economic, social, and cultural statuses does not result in the assumption that they would be satisfied with the earthly happenings. Often, people would feel dissatisfied in one way or the other, because of the process of life conditioning. Literally, the ultimate dissatisfaction results from the perceived individual decision making, sensing, mental formation, and feeling, which generally makes life complicated and dissatisfactory. Essentially, the wrong choices that the people make, degrading thoughts, the sense of selflessness, and the unaccomplished tasks, derail the existence of the hope of achieving ones’ potential, thus, making life dissatisfactory. Furthermore, contemplating on the issue of dissatisfactory life reduces the morale and individual self-esteem, threatening the achievement of the full potential.
Once an individual is incapacitated on offering the solution to the hidden self problems, which affect his or her life, then, then life becomes dissatisfactory and meaningless. In essence, the truth surrounding the dissatisfied nature of life is a conception concerning the reality of religious and ethical transformation, thereby, confirming that “Life is Duhkha”, life is dissatisfactory.

The Origin of the Universe

According to the spiritual cultivation of Buddha Religion, there is no speculation that is right concerning the origin of the universe. Indeed, theoretical beliefs that the Universe originated from God are not acceptable in Buddhism. They believe that the Universe originated from Tao, whom they call the Origin of nature. Tao is believed to be beyond non-being and all the beings. Apparently, the wisdom of the being that is taking care of, and behind all nature, including the Universe, lack among the people. Arguably, human thought, could not establish the creator of the ultimate reality, which is the Universe. Therefore, Buddha believed that the Universe did not arise from any natural occurrence, but, in the might of Tao.