The Self-Effacing Buddhist: No(t)-Self in Early Buddhism and Contemplative Neuroscience
Contemporary Buddhism January 2, 2017 DOI: 10.1080/14639947.2017.1297344 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Buddhism |
| Citations | 9 |
| Key points | Argues that anattā in early Buddhism is best read as a soteriological method of 'not-self' rather than a metaphysical 'no-Self' doctrine, and contends that neuroimaging findings on Buddhist or Buddhism-inspired meditators—quieting of the narrative self, momentary well-being gains, learnability after roughly 40 hours, and apparent tuning down of the core self in advanced practitioners—correspond with this view. |
Abstract
One of the core teachings of Buddhism is the doctrine of anattā. I argue that there is good evidence that anattā as understood in early Buddhism should be viewed less as a doctrine and a metaphysical pronouncement (‘no-Self’) than as a soteriological claim (‘not-self’) – an appeal and a method to achieve, or move progressively closer to, liberation. This view opens up anattā to empirical scrutiny – does un-selfing, as an act, lead to liberation? Neuroimaging data collected on Buddhist or Buddhism-inspired meditators show interesting correspondences with this view of not-self as a possibly soteriological strategy. First, meditation leads to a quieting of the narrative self. Second, this quieting of the narrative self seems to lead to at least momentary increases in well-being. Third, this process can be learned, and seems to be already underway after a mere 40 hours of experience. Finally, very highly accomplished meditators seem to be able to tune down even the core self and truly experience anattā, including an apparent subduing of reflexive awareness.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on buddhism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mental balance and well-being: Building bridges between Buddhism and Western psychology. | 2006 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Buddhist Modernism and the Rhetoric of Meditative Experience | 1995 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Buddhist and Psychological Perspectives on Emotions and Well-Being | 2005 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Too Early to Tell: The Potential Impact and Challenges—Ethical and Otherwise—Inherent in the Mainstreaming of Dharma in an Increasingly Dystopian World | 2017 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| From self to nonself: The Nonself Theory | 2016 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Existential Buddhism: embracing life's uncertainties and finding meaning within South Florida Journal of Development October 25, 2024
- Meditação, mindfulness, impermanência e não-eu: revisão integrativa sobre interfaces entre Psicologia, Neurociência e Budismo Revista Sociedade Científica July 1, 2026
- Rewiring the Brain for Resilience Improving Mental Well-Being at the Intersection of Mindfulness, Meditation, and Yoga May 9, 2026
Cites 10
- A default mode of brain function Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences January 16, 2001
- Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being JAMA Internal Medicine January 6, 2014
- Attending to the present: mindfulness meditation reveals distinct neural modes of self-reference Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience August 13, 2007
- Mindfulness-induced selflessness: a MEG neurophenomenological study. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2013
- Meditation-related activations are modulated by the practices needed to obtain it and by the expertise: an ALE meta-analysis study Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2013
and 5 more in the library