The Concept of Non-self in Buddhism

Buddhitakso

The concept of Anattā (non-self or absence of separate self) in Buddhism has always been the main subject of confusion among the followers. Now, let us analyse this. Simply, it means - Now you see it; now you don't.  This is what the concept of emptiness in Buddhism is all about - absence of static entity.  Nothing stays unchanging even for the slightest moment at all times. By the time you think who you are, you are already not the same you seconds ago.  So, where are you to find the original static of you as you assume along every passing moment?

At the end of the day, you could only see a stream of you constantly passing by on every slightest moment.  So, I repeat, you could only see a stream of you; not the one stop entity of you.  Just like, you could not step twice into the same river; for other waters are ever flowing on to you. The stream of you would mean you are part of the becoming processes that arise in the nature.  All different shapes and forms that exist in the nature or the so-called you as being are merely momentary outcomes of the constant and continuous becoming processes in the realm of existence.

Under balance phenomenon, one could witness shapes or forms arise; under imbalance phenomenon, one could see no shapes or forms arise - and the cycle of conditional phenomena continues repeatedly. Finally, the stream of you is devoid of inherent existence.  It means that you do not exist independently by the definition of physical container that you always assumed to be.  You are merely the results of energy or matter orientation that evolve constantly and continuously in a plane of space at all times.  

In other words, you are just like part of the Lego pieces or bricks that can be assembled and connected in many ways, to construct such objects as vehicles, buildings, and even working robots - anything constructed can then be taken apart again, and the pieces used to make other objects. When one is fully awakened on the principle of emptiness or non-self, the state of egolessness in oneself would arise concurrently. This realisation is part of the fundamental routes to enlightenment as prescribed by the Buddha.