The Religions Book

148

T

he idea that a human being

comprises a physical body

and a nonphysical self, or

soul, is deeply ingrained in almost

all religious traditions. It forms the

basis of speculation about life after

death—whether we survive in

some form in heaven or hell, or are

reincarnated as the nonphysical self

takes on a new body. Belief in an

immortal soul and in God seem the

very essence of religion. Both,

however, were rejected by Buddha,

who believed we have no fixed self.

The idea that we do not have

a permanent self, but are constantly

changing, is absolutely central

to Buddhist teaching, and sets

Buddhism apart from most other

IN CONTEXT

KEY FIGURE

Nagasena

WHEN AND WHERE

1st century CE, India

BEFORE

6th century BCE The Hindu

Upanishads make a distinction

between the physical body, the

self made up of thoughts and

experience, and an eternal self.

6th century BCE Buddha

argues that everything is

constantly changing and

nothing has a fixed essence.

AFTER

12th century CE Teachers

of Zen Buddhism distinguish

between the small mind, or

ego, and the Buddha-mind.

20th century Existentialist

thinkers, like Buddhists, argue

that individuals shape their

lives through the decisions

they make.

WE CANNOT

SAY WHAT A

PERSON IS

THE SELF AS CONSTANTLY CHANGING