Outline Of The Buddhist No Self Theory

In this essay I will outline the Buddhist ‘no self’ theory and how it is the Buddhist believe this impacts our ability to reach nirvana and thus enlightenment. I will further discuss the good and bad reasons of believing that the Buddhist ‘no self’ view is conducive to the cessation of suffering (nirvana), analyzing the emotional and ethical implications of practicing no self, whilst also considering how it affects right understanding and mental and meditative cultivation. Concluding that following the Buddhist ‘no self’ theory is in fact essential to reaching nirvana and that there are good reasons for believing this view is conducive to the cessation of suffering (nirvana).
The Buddhist bundle theory states we as people are made up of five aggregates, these are; form, sensation, perception, mental formation and consciousness. However, these are not ‘qualities an individual possesses as there is no-self possessing them.’ (O’Brien, 2017, Sec. 2, Par. 1) To grasp at these aggregates is to grasp at something as ‘I’ or ‘mine’, this in turn is to grasp at the idea of a ‘self.’ The theory of no self is called anatta/ anatman. Suffering comes from clinging to something as ‘I’ or ‘mine’, to let go of these aggregates and the idea of a ‘self’, is to let go of suffering. Buddhists believe practicing the ‘no-self’ theory is essential to the cessation of
These are desire, ignorance and greed. To stop clinging to the five aggregates and referring to things as ‘I’ or ‘mine’ is to end desire, ignorance and greed. This is essential to the cessation of suffering, ‘as long as our thoughts, words and actions are conditioned by the three poisons they will generate harmful Karma’ (O’Brein, 2017, par. 5), without letting go of the three poisons one cannot reach