Expert: Justin Choo - 12/13/2004

Question
Is there a difference between Theravada and Mahayana beliefs with respect to the existence of the soul?  All of my reading has led me to conclude that there is no "self"-- either corporeal or spiritual.  But if that is the case, what is it that is contiunally reborn in the cycle of samsara, and what is it that ultimately achieves Buddhahood?  If it is some version of the "soul", is it empty?

Answer
Hi George,

Thank you for asking me.

As far as I know there is no difference between the 2 traditions in the concept of "no soul".  However, the Mahayana tends to emphasize on "emptiness", which means that in the final analysis, everything is empty.  

"Emptiness" concept in Buddhism is a unique revelation by the Buddha.  It is the 3rd characteristic of what we call the 3 characteristics of the nature of this world.  The Buddha expounded the trilogy of Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta, meaning Impermanance, Unsatisfactoriness, No soul or insubstantiality or emptiness.

This concept of emptiness can only be understood if one understands the concept of Anatta.  It takes some time and a lot of contemplation to understand Anatta.  The underlying concept of Anatta is that in the final analysis, there is nothing in this world which we can call our own.  As such it is "empty".  The Pali term is called Sunnata ( pronounce: Soon - ya - ta).  If one can really realize this concept then one is free from the clutches of the miseries of this world.

This living-being consists of mind and matter.    There will not be any problem understanding this "matter", which is this physical body.  To understand the "mind" is another matter, so goes the pun.

The mind is the unseen energy (or life force) that gives life to the body.  The body is dead without this energy called the "mind".  This energy, like all energies, is in a state of flux, which means it is never static. This mind collaborates with the brain to synergize into consciousness.  It is like the electric current, a continuous flow of energy.  Can we say that the electric energy right now is the same as the one previously?  Can we say that it is different?  When the physical body is no longer able to function, this mind-energy migrates or reborn into another matter; it is rebirth.
 This mind is a stream of consciousness. It is a "stream" in perpetual flux, ever flowing. Just like a stream; we see a stream as a permanent flow of water; but the stream we see now is actually not exactly the same as the one we saw a moment ago. This is because the water that flows is not the same as that was before.   That was why the Buddha described the "rebirth process" as a process that is "not the same, yet not different".

As our stream of consciousness has no physical entity or mass, it can attach itself to any physical entity of any shape and size. It can also exist without a physical entity! This stream of consciousness is also called the evolution current of the mind. "Evolution" means the current evolves. It is a continuous stream and along the way it picks up the vibrations of our actions. These vibrations form the pollutants in the stream. These pollutants are the results of all our good and bad actions which we generate in our lives; our kammic actions. The original current was absolutely pure, but throughout its flow it accumulated the pollutants. These pollutants are both the bad and the good ones. So long as we possess any trace of these pollutants, we will be subject to rebirth. If bad pollutants overwhelm the current, the rebirth will take place in suffering states. If good pollutants overshadow the bad, then rebirth takes place in happier abodes.

If the evolution current of the mind is completely pure, then it is free from further rebirth once the final life ends. This pure mind is free from the pull of the current.  This pure mind has freed itself from the attractions of this whirlpool of existence.  "Buddhahood" is this achievement of "full enlightenment".  The mind is no longer attracted to this unsatisfactory existence.  It is now not subject to the gross characteristics of this existence, and is free from the grasp of impermanence, sorrow, and emptiness.  It has attained Nibbana, a state not subject to any condition.

It is quite impossible to understand any concept which we have no experience at all. That is why in order to understand the ultimate truths as propounded by the Buddha, we need to achieve a higher level of spiritual and mental advancement. Until then, we can only be satisfied with our worldly understanding given our limited mental faculty, by trying to analyse the Buddha's Higher Language.

Smile from justinchoo :-)