Many people find the Buddhist teaching of anatta (non-self) to be challenging to grasp, and that’s understandable because it’s a complex concept. The idea that there isn’t a singular “self” in control can be hard to wrap our heads around. Typically, people believe there must be a “self” that makes decisions and controls actions. They fear that if they lose this “self,” life will become chaotic and choices will be impossible to make.
However, the Buddha never actually taught that there is no self. Instead, what he and other teachers often mean when they say there’s “no self” is that the kind of self you believe you have doesn’t exist. This illusory self is usually thought of as a central, conscious entity that orchestrates all your experiences and actions. But you don’t really have this kind of self. So, you don’t have a self to lose, and thus the idea of how to live without a self doesn’t even arise. In fact, you’re already living without this kind of self, and you’re doing just fine.
The problem occurs when we believe in this illusory self. It becomes a burden because it’s often not happy and causes us to ponder its quality, comparing it to others’ selves and feeling inadequate. This perceived self leads to unnecessary suffering.
A significant aspect of this illusory self is that we believe it makes conscious decisions. We think there are actions we decide on consciously, like lifting an arm, and others that are influenced by factors we’re unaware of, like being swayed by advertising. Research, however, shows that even our so-called conscious decisions are made unconsciously. Studies in neuroscience, such as Ben Libet’s work from the 1980s and more recent findings from fMRI studies, reveal that decision-making processes occur outside of conscious awareness. Scientists can predict a decision up to six seconds before a person becomes aware of making it.
Many people find this unsettling because they equate consciousness with the self. But once we examine this deeply, the illusion fades. Direct-pointing, a method used in teaching, helps practitioners look beyond their delusions and recognize the inadequacies of the self-view. However, clear insights like this are often difficult to access without guidance.
One metaphor that helps explain non-self is Stephen King’s idea of the “boys in the basement,” referring to the unconscious creative forces behind his writing. These “boys” operate outside of conscious awareness, producing words and actions that seem to emerge fully formed in our minds. Although we are aware of the end products, we are not consciously aware of how they came to be.
To better understand how decisions are made, imagine a building with a central atrium surrounded by rooms in the basement, each housing different parts of the mind (“the boys”). These rooms, which symbolize the various subcommittees of our brain, communicate and debate without conscious awareness. The atrium is empty, serving only as a conduit for impulses that occasionally pass through it, into our conscious awareness. The decisions we believe are made consciously actually originate from these unconscious discussions among the “boys.”
The illusion of a unitary, conscious self arises because one “boy” in yet another basement room, whom we can call “The Plagiarist,” takes credit for all decisions and actions passing through the atrium, claiming them as his own. This false sense of a conscious, decision-making self causes us to misunderstand our experiences and actions.
Even actions we believe are consciously made, like deciding to lift an arm, originate from unconscious processes. Neuroscience shows the decision to lift the arm happens before we become aware of it. In the same way, choices influenced by advertising are driven by unconscious factors. Our problem is believing that conscious choice is the norm when, in fact, all decisions are made unconsciously.
To see through the illusion of conscious choice, try observing your thoughts, speech, and movements closely. Realize that thoughts appear without prior awareness of their content, speech flows without premeditation, and bodily movements occur automatically. By recognizing these patterns, it’s clear that the conscious mind is not in control.
This understanding aligns with the notion of no-self. Free will and non-self are not incompatible; rather, our choices stem from unconscious processes that sometimes become conscious. Our concept of “free will” should be revised to recognize these constraints. Mindfulness and wisdom enhance our ability to choose wisely, even if the act of choosing arises unconsciously.
The idea of non-self is liberating. It helps to reduce the burden of the illusory self and promotes happiness and well-being. Ultimately, Buddhist meditation and practice enable us to see through this delusion, fostering a deeper sense of connection, mindfulness, and compassion.