Self and Self-Transcendence
Buddhism and Human Flourishing January 1, 2020 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-37027-5_6 via Springer Nature
Summary
The chapter examines the Buddhist doctrine of anattā, or 'non-self,' discussing its meaning, limitations, and the concept of self as interrelated reflective processes. It highlights Buddhism's view of the self as problematic and explores the potential for self-transcendence, particularly in non-dual experiences during meditation and psychedelics. The chapter also addresses how insights from these experiences can be integrated into ongoing behavior.
Study at a glance
| Key finding | The self is best understood as a set of interrelated reflective organismic processes, with implications for self-transcendence. |
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Abstract
This chapter explores the foundations of the Buddhist doctrine of the anattā or “non-self,” and what the concept means and does not mean. It then examines the utility and limitations of the doctrine and proposes that the self is best understood as a set of interrelated reflective organismic processes. The chapter explains why Buddhism views the self as problematic and explores the degree to which self-transcendence may be possible. In the section on self-transcendence, the chapter discusses the nature of non-dual experiencing in spontaneous, meditative, and psychedelic contexts. It includes a discussion of the degree to which insights gleaned from non-dual experiencing can be integrated or fail to be integrated in ongoing behavior.