The Selfless Mind

Book

This careful analysis of early Buddhist thought opens out a perspective in which no permanent Self is accepted, but a rich analysis of changing and potent mental processes is developed. It explores issues relating to the not-Self teaching: self-development, moral responsibility, the between-lives period, and the 'undetermined questions' on the world, on the 'life principle' and on the liberated one after death. It examines the 'person' as a flowing continuity centered on consciousness or discernment (vinnana) configured in changing minds-sets (cittas). The resting state of this is seen as 'brightly shining' - like the 'Buddha nature' of Mahayana thought - so as to represent the potential for Nirvana. Nirvana is then shown to be a state in which consciousness transcends all objects, and thus participates in a timeless, unconditioned realm. (Source: Routledge)

See especially chapter 10, Bhavaṅga and the Brightly Shining Mind.

Citation	Harvey, Peter. The Selfless Mind: Personality, Consciousness and Nirvāṇa in Early Buddhism. London: RoutledgeCurzon, 2004. First published 1995 by Curzon Press. http://www.ahandfulofleaves.org/documents/The%20Selfless%20Mind_Personality_Consciousness%20and%20Nirvana%20in%20Early%20Buddhism_Harvey_1995-2004r.pdf.

- INTRODUCTION1
- Key non-Buddhist concepts1
- Key Buddhist concepts2
- 'Not-Self' and scholars7
- Sources9
- Methodology11

Part I Exploring the Notion of Selflessness

THE QUESTION OF SELF17
Scholars who see a metaphysical Self in the 'early Suttas'17
Uses of the word 'self' (atta) in the 'early Suttas'19
Passages which might indicate the acceptance of a Self21
Nibbāna as not-Self and not related to a Self23
Self as 'not being apprehended'24
A Self beyond 'existence' and 'non-existence'?28
Proof of the impossibility of a Self31
Buddhism and the Upaniṣads on Self33
The status of the 'person'34
Why is Self not denied?: the Buddha and the Annihilationists38
The 'I am' attitude: its cause, effect and its ending40

2 THE MEANING OF 'NOT-SELF' 43 The role of viewing phenomena as not-Self 43 The criteria for Self-hood 46 Nibbiina and the Self-ideal 51