Self and Self-Transcendence
Buddhism and Human Flourishing 2020 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-37027-5_6 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Proposes that the self is best understood as a set of interrelated reflective organismic processes and that self-transcendence through non-dual experiencing may be possible but its integration into behavior is variable. |
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.