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Philosophy / Unit 1   Philosophy 0015 short lesson, about 20 seconds

Buddhist Philosophy: No-Self

Captions available

The idea

Buddhist philosophy holds that everything is impermanent and that no fixed, enduring self exists—the doctrine of anatta.

In practice

A flame at midnight and at dawn: one continuous fire, yet no single persisting thing. A classic image for the person.

Where people slip

Anatta directly denies the Upanishadic atman. Indian philosophy spent centuries arguing exactly this point.

Your place on the trail

Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.

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