Expert: Justin Choo - 4/13/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hello Justin,
I have a question - is there a soul or no soul according to Buddha's teachings. If there is no soul, then what is it that remains after death and reborns?

This is a particular area of confusion for me for a long time.
Thank you for your time and help.
with regards

ANSWER: Hi Janmejay,

The first thing we must clarify is what is meant by soul.
From Dictionary.com
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/soul
"the principle of life, feeling, thought, and action in humans, regarded as a distinct entity separate from the body, and commonly held to be separable in existence from the body; the spiritual part of humans as distinct from the physical part."

From Merriam-webster.com:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soul
"the immaterial essence, animating principle, or actuating cause of an individual life"

You can see, actually the dictionary meaning does not specifically state that there is an unchanging "entity" existing life after life. If we take this to be the correct meaning of "soul", then there is no longer an issue. There simply exists this "soul" existing from life after life.

Of course, the general understanding of "soul" is that there is this "etheral entity" which never changes.  It is like "Mr X" will always be reborn as "Mr X" forever and ever. The next logical question to ask is that if it is the same Mr X, then why Mr X cannot remember his past lives, not even his last life prior to his present life?

By the way there is a difference between "rebirth" and "reincarnation". The Buddha actually talked about rebirth. Rebirth is a continuation of life-flow but not of the exact entity or "soul". Reincarnation is the rebirth of the same person, Mr X. "Rebirth" is the rebirth of the etheral energy which is constantly changing, but has its continuity, just like the flowing river, or the electric current.

A person is comprised of matter (physical body) and mind. We know that this physical body will perish one day. It is not a permanent entity. The mind is also not a permanent unchanging entity. The mind is always in a state of flux. There are thought moments continuously going on in the mind. This is the consciousness or etheral energy or life-force that gives the mind its substance. The energy of the mind is just like the electric current flowing continuously, but no two moments are the same.

This "etheral energy" gives live to form (physical body). Without this energy the form is dead. However when this physical form is worn out and fails to function, the etheral energy takes on another form to start a new cycle. This process is called rebirth.

"Rebirth" takes on a totally different perspective. It views existence as an on-going process, just like the electric current lighting up a bulb. The "bulb" is like the physical body. When this bulb is blown, the current is still there and when a new bulb is fixed on, it lights up again. So you can see that there is a continuity in the electric current, but the current flowing through is not the same at any one moment. The new bulb is not the same as the old one, but the new one exists because the old one has ceased to exist. The new bulb has no idea of its predecessor.

Our existence is in this state of flux. When the body is dead, the life energy seeks another form to "reborn". The type of rebirth will depend on the nature of this store-house of life energy. If this store-house of energy has more wholesome characteristics, then it will seek rebirth in a more conducive environment. On the other hand, if it has more negative characteristics, then its rebirth will be in a more unwholesome environment. As the life force is always in a flux, there is no permanent and unchanging soul, but a changing personality that exists throughout.

To describe this process of rebirth, the Buddha used the term "Not exactly the same, yet not totally different".

"Na ca so, na ca anno" in Pali.  (Pronounce: "Nar cha so, nar cha un-yo")



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you, Justin,
Does this mean this "etheral energy" is same as "Atman" in Hinduism? If it is "etheral energy", it is same for all sentient beings with no shape, form and colour, then is this same as BRAHMAN in Hinduism? I am always confused with BRAHMAN and EMPTINESS, which apparaently look similar. Is my understanding correct?

And if there is only rebirth and no reincarnation, then in other Buddhist traditions like Mahayana how do they say that same Mr X reincarnates again and again? In that case, is there any entity that is changing or NOT changing?

Also, I have one more question on similar lines, what are these different traditions of Buddhisim and for a newbie like me, I get confused with these schools, is there any similarity or difference in these schools?
Which one should one follow?

Thank you for your time and co-operation

Answer
Hi Janmejay,

Welcome back.

You are trying to reconcile different concepts of different religions, hoping that they all will mean the same.  Then no more problem!  It is not possible to do that.  If they can be the same, then there won't be different religions anymore.  So you need to treat Buddhist concepts as they are, and not try to fit them into the concepts of other religions.  Then no more problem and contradiction.

'Atman" is the unchanging soul.  "Brahman" is the infinite energy in the universe.  "Brahma" is the Creator God, the Supreme Being, in Hinduism.

<<what are these different traditions of Buddhisim and for a newbie like me, I get confused with these schools, is there any similarity or difference in these schools?>>


Below is a good explanation from http://sdhammika.blogspot.com/2009/09/unity-in-diversity.html

In 1967, First Congress of the World Buddhist Sangha Council, representing Buddhists from 25 countries and made up of all the main Buddhist traditions, drew up an ecumenical document called ‘The Basic Points Unifying the Theravada and the Mahayana’. This document is a concise formula for the unifying principles that all Buddhists adhered too and was unanimously approved by all the participants of the Council. The statement reads -
1. The Buddha is our only Master (teacher and guide)
2. We take refuge in the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha (the Three Jewels).
3. We do not believe that this world is created and ruled by a God.
4. We consider that the purpose of life is to develop compassion for all living beings without discrimination and to work for their good, happiness, and peace; and to develop wisdom (panna) leading to the realization of Ultimate Truth.
5. We accept the Four Noble Truths, namely dukkha, the arising of dukkha, the cessation of dukkha, and the path leading to the cessation of dukkha; and the law of cause and effect (paticcasamuppada).
6. All conditioned things (samkhara) are impermanent (anicca) and dukkha, and that all conditioned and unconditioned things (dhamma) are without self (anatta).
7. We accept the thirty-seven qualities conducive to enlightenment (bodhipakkhaya dhamma) as different aspects of the Path taught by the Buddha leading to Enlightenment.
8. There are three of attaining bodhi or Enlightenment: namely as a disciple (savaka), as a paccaka buddha and as a samma sambuddha (perfectly and fully enlightened Buddha). We accept it as the highest, noblest, and most heroic to follow the career of a Bodhisattva and to become a samma sambuddha in order to save others.
9. We admit that in different countries there are differences regarding Buddhist beliefs and practices. These external forms and expressions should not be confused with the essential teachings of the Buddha.


<<Which one should one follow?>>
Take your time to study them, and then you decide for yourself.  If you can, it will be helpful if you can visit the different centres to get a feel of the "differences".



Hope this helps.

Take care.

Justin Choo